Former Kakamega Homeboyz winger on verge of double success in South Sudan
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 15.04.26. | 20:27
Masha won the Mozzart Bet Cup with Kakamega Homeboyz in 2023
El Merreikh Bentiu, home to former Kakamega Homeboyz marksman Gaetan Masha seem to be going all out this season, targeting a now realistic double after dumping league defending champions Jamus FC out of the South Sudan Cup.
A lone Thetloach Thor Kang goal dispatched their arch rivals at the Juba national stadium on Monday to see Masha’s side sail to the semi-finals.
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With the Bentiu side also leading the log in the premiership, a double now beckons, and offers a chance for the side to return to CAF champions league having missed out last season.
Masha, sent in from the bench in the contest, awakened the Bentiu forward line with the goal coming just ten minutes after his introduction.
He wants, more than anything, to see his team return to the champions league.
‘’Over the past two years, we have had a chance to play in the CAF confederations cup and saw the kind of exposure every professional player wants. We are focussed on that. We win the league, and the cup if the Almighty allows. We have been putting in the work and it shows from our performances,’’ says the former Nzoia Sugar and Kakamega Homeboyz man.
Masha, though, is no stranger to domestic titles.
During Homeboyz’s stellar Mozzart Bet Cup run in 2023, he was part of coach Patrick Odhiambo’s charges that stunned the country and bagged the prized cup.
It was his major first and would follow it up two years later with El Mereikh winning the league title in South Sudan.
Coincidentally drawn against then Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in the CAF champions league, Bentiu would capitulate at the sight of the Kenyan side despite edging Gor 1-0 in the first leg of the contest.
A 5-1 rout awaited them in Nairobi, seeing them bow out in just the first round.
They have grown since, Masha says.
‘’It was a learning curve. For most of my teammates, it was the first time playing at such a stage and between then and now, a lot has changed and character has grown,’’ continues the speedy forward.
This season, however, now offers a chance for an unprecedented double.
They’ve disposed of their greatest rival in the domestic cup and have a healthy five point lead in the league with just seven matches to go.
‘’That would be great for my profile. Apart from giving us the chance to compete continentally, it boosts a player’s profile. For us now the challenge is to stay focussed on the remaining matches both in the league and in the cup.
A double will be a nice gift to our ever dedicated fans. They stood with us when we didn’t win anything and we feel it’s only fair to return the favour by winning,’’ he adds.
Judging by Bentiu’s form both in the league and cup, it would be most disappointing if they were to finish the season empty handed.
A side that last tasted defeat more than fifteen matches ago, sometime in November last year to Kator FC, they have, in time, stamped authority South Sudan and don’t seem like letting go any time soon.
Before meeting Jamus in the cup quarters, they had mercilessly taken down YDS FC 7-0 in the round of 16 whereas in the league, City rivals Bentiu City had been taken apart 6-2. It’s a dangerous time to face Masha and company.