Gor Mahia Names Travelling Squad To Algeria For USM Alger Test

Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia has named a 30-man travelling squad that is set to leave for the CAF Champions League first-round clash against USM Alger.

The contingent includes 16-players, six technical bench staff, three club officials and a representative from Football Kenya Federation as head of the delegation.

Ugandan defender Shafiq Batambuze will not travel as he is nursing an injury so is the trio of Ghanaian forward Francis Afriyie, Ivorian Gislen Yikpe and Philemon Otieno who has been phenomenal at the right-back for the club.

The team is set to leave Nairobi on Thursday at midnight aboard Qatar Airways plane ahead of the match that will be played on Saturday from 7 pm EAT.

The new development comes after several days of uncertainty whether they would travel or not as the management had highlighted that they were facing financial constraints.

This was even after calling a fundraiser on Tuesday which fell short of $50,000 required as some of the guests failed to turn up for the fund drive which was held at a Nairobi Hotel.

Gor Mahia attempt to seek help from the Ministry of Sports through Federation of Kenya Football (FKF) for return air tickets didn’t bear fruit after Sports Permanent Secretary Kirimi Kaberia acknowledged the receipt of their letter, but said the ministry has no money.

The East African giants were thrown into financial uncertainty when shirt sponsor SportPesa withdrew their support following the government’s failure to renew the betting firm’s operating license.

Travelling Party:

Players:

Boniface Oluoch, David Mapigano, Wellington Ochieng, Tobias Otieno, Joash Onyango, Maurice Ojwang, Wendo Ernest, Lawrence Juma, Charles Momanyi, Kenneth Muguna, Joachim Oluoch, Godfrey Ochieng, Dickson Ambundo, Boniface Omondi, Nicholas Kipkirui, Samuel Onyango, Nicholas Kipkirui

Technical bench:

Stevan Polack, Patrick Odhiambo, Jolawi Obondo, Willis Ochieng, Fredrick Otieno, George Omondi

Club Officials:

Ronald Ngala, Judith Nyangi, David Okilo

FKF representative:

Joseph Adere