Record Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Gor Mahia will leave the country on Friday for Republic of Congo where they will play AS Otoho d’Oyo on Sunday in the Caf Confederation Cup.
K’Ogalo clash with the Congolese giants at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat in Brazzaville from 5.30 pm in the first leg of the second round of the continental event.
The return leg meeting between the two sides will be staged at the Nyayo National Stadium a week later.
Kenya’s other representative in the competition, Tusker are also intensifying their preparations for their first leg tie against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
The three-time champions are expected to jet into the country on Thursday morning according to Tusker chairman Dan Aduda ahead of Sunday’s 3pm clash.
As K’Ogalo prepare for the six hours, 45 minutes journey to Republic of Congo, British coach Mark Harrison will only have 16 players at his disposal for the game.
Gor used a lean squad in their 3-1 win over Al Ahly Merowe of Sudan in the first leg of the first round of the competition. The Sudanese side however issued a walkover in the second leg due to financial distress.
Gor couldn’t register its newly signed players in the Caf transfer window in July and August due to a Fifa ban for failing to settle arrears owed to a former coach and players.
However, K’Ogalo will be allowed to register more players if they advance to the group stage of the competition, whose matches will be played from February.
“We only have 16 players but our focus is making it to the group stages. We are continuing to prepare well so that we can get a positive result in this game and make it to the group stage.
“We leave the country on Friday morning so that we can settle well and enhance our final preparations against our opponents,” said the 60-year-old tactician.
The club plaued two friendly matches over the weekend; beating Shabana 2-1, but lost with the same score-line to former league side Kisumu All Stars.
AS Otohô dropped from the Caf Champions League after a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Angolan side Petro de Luanda in the first round.
Teams that qualify for the group stage will receive Sh27 million grant from Caf to aid in their preparations for matches.
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