Hassan Oktay optimistic on Gor Mahia’s chances in the second leg

Trailing 2-0 in the first leg at home, Gor Mahia have all to play for when they play the second leg of their CAF Confederations Cup quarter-final tie against RS Berkane. The record Kenyan Champions were no match for their rampant visitors especially due to the fact that a host of first team players were missing, owing to injuries and suspensions.

Hassan Oktay, the Gor Mahia head coach was also suspended for the first leg due to indiscipline but he was quick to agree that the absence of key players most notably Captain Harun Shakava, talismanic forward Jacques Tuyisenge and the brilliant left back Shafik Batambuze, ultimately deprived his team of the quality and leadership needed to prevail in such a high profile match.

“Of course the absence of our key players affected the team. It’s difficult to work without such experienced and quality players and that’s where I believe we lost the game,” said a disappointed Oktay.

“Players’ strikes before such big games make my job difficult. These players need to be motivated. We need to put our house in order and solve all issues surrounding the players. This is the game that we should have won very easily,” He added.

Oktay however remained optimistic of overturning the result in the second leg, though highly unlikely given the manner in which RS Berkane outclassed them on Sunday.

“It’s not over yet. In football everything is possible. The excitement has now started, we will go there and fight for the win,” Oktay concluded.

In football, it is never over until the final whistle is blown, it could still be the case for Gor Mahia but one feels that they will need a miracle, can they get one?