All eyes will be on the 30 June Stadium in Cairo tonight as we take on Egyptian side Pyramids FC in the second leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie. The match kicks off at 8pm Kenyan time.
Standing in Gor Mahia’s way is a two-goal deficit, after Pyramids claimed a 2-0 victory in the first leg in Nairobi.
Head coach Charles Akonnor remains undeterred, believing his side is still very much alive in the contest. The Ghanaian trainer has hinted at tweaking his tactics and approach for the return leg, though he was quick to counsel patience.
“Training was encouraging… we might change one or two in this game. We want to be defensively sound and then of course have an idea of attacking. We don’t have much to lose but we want to be very careful and when the opportunity arises, we attack and we do it at the right time,” said Akonnor.
The coach voiced his faith in the squad and the work put in ahead of the crucial fixture.
“We have spoken to the players, even individually… and the message is clear as to what they should do. It’s a tough one and very challenging but everything is possible in football. I believe in the boys and I believe in our preparation… If we do the right thing at the right time, then we have a chance. Mentally, we have to be ready,” he added.
Defender Frank Odhiambo struck an upbeat note about the team’s build-up, stressing that the players are focused on putting in a solid display. He pointed out that football often turns on fine margins, and a comeback is well within reach.
“So far, the week has been good since we started in Nairobi and up to here… we want to do well; we have set a challenge for ourselves. Football is a game of chances and we can overturn the scoreline. We just want to minimize our mistakes and capitalize on our chances,” stated Odhiambo.
