Kenya's Gor Mahia all set for Maputo clash

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga Thursday morning hosted the country’s representative in the CAF Confederations Cup Gor Mahia.

The Kenyans leave for Mozambique Friday for their first round weekend clash with Ferroviario in Maputo.

Gor Mahia, coached by Cameroonian national Anaba Anono, are in high spirits that they will emerge victorious in the away encounter.

The Kenyans won the CAF Cup Winners Cup in 1987, but have since then been on a downward trend that has seen them struggle even in the national league.

They opened this year's Kenya Premier League title hunt last weekend with a morale-boosting victory, and are upbeat that the Maputo clash will be another success story.

Gor Mahia Thursday received $5,000 donation from Mumias Sugar Company CEO Evans Kidero.

“We are confident of a good result from Maputo. The Team is in good shape and psyched for the tour,” said Gor Secretary General George Bwana.

Odinga said the Kenya Government was investing in sports and was improving facilities as more coaches were being trained to nurture budding talents in local institutions.

He asked the management of soccer to put their house in order to ensure that the sport regained its popularity to attract commercial sponsors.

The PM challenged Kenyan teams to improve their performance to woo fans back to the stadia, saying the sport could be used to create a national identity.

Odinga said with improved performance, clubs would increase their gate pickings and also attract sponsorship from companies and avoid situations where they could not foot their bills.

“It is very unfortunate to see our teams desperately looking for sponsorship to buy air tickets whenever they have an international engagement,” Odinga said.

He told the team to emulate the performance of the Chipolopolo of Zambia, who were considered the underdogs, but clinched the African Cup of Nations.