By James Magayi @PeopleSports11
Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay has expressed his desire to retain veteran striker Dennis Oliech in his team after losing top scorer Jacquise Tuyisenge to Angola’s Petro Atletico.
Oliech who suffered a broken arm during a league match against Western Stima towards the end of last season, is, however, still nursing the injury and yet to resume pre-season training.
Oktay said he could not risk losing the services of the former Harambee Stars and Auxerre goal-getter, especially after the departure of Tuyisenge and out of favour George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo.
The Turkish coach criticised the club for letting Tuysenge leave and not tying down Kahata to a new contract, referring the duo as some of his key players last season.
“In those two players we lost great talent, players who win you matches. We must ably replace them if we are to make a mark in the continental campaign and defend our league title.
Our opponents locally are making progress with quality signings. They all want to match us and overtake us. We cannot afford to stall but to keep moving,” Oktay told People Daily.
Gor have invited two West African hit men for contract negotiations as they seek to bolster the team before the season begins.
The team at the moment only have injured Dennis Oliech and Nicholas Kipkirui as experienced centre forwards with new arrivals Dennis Oalo and Dickson Ambundo joining this month and Burundian Francis Mustapha who was used sparingly last season as a substitute.
K’Ogalo have prioritised CAF Champions League group stage this season and must overcome Aigle Noir (Black Eagles) of Burundi in the first round and either USM Alger of Algeria and SONIDEP of Niger in the second round to reach the group stage.
A source within the team intimated that some unnamed strikers from Ghana and Ivory Coast were due to arrive yesterday for talks with the club. “CECAFA Club Championships provided a perfect platform for the club to review the calibre of players in the team especially the new arrivals.
There is general concensus that more firepower is needed upfront and two players from Ghana and Ivory Coast have been approached by the club,” the source said.
