
Gor Mahia is a work in progress, coach Johnathan McKinstry says after Sofapaka draw
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 27.08.23. | 14:56
Next for Gor Mahia is an away match against Ulinzi Stars.
Gor Mahia began their Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) title defense with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Sofapaka at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
K'Ogalo rallied from a goal down to level through a Benson Omala penalty in the dying minutes of the game after Darius Msagha had put Batoto Ba Mungu in the lead from a deflected effort.
"The game went probably the way Sofapaka wanted it to," head coach Johnathan McKinstry said after the match.
According to the Irishman, Sofapaka sat back after getting the goal, frustrating their efforts. "A draw was probably a fair result, but we are disappointed we couldn't win it towards the end."
The former Uganda Cranes coach feels that his team is still lacking in sharpness, having made some last-minute signings, and the forthcoming international break will afford them a chance to sharpen further.
He revealed that Rwandan winger Patrick Sibomana, who was a second-half substitute and played for around thirty minutes, did not train with the team and only met his teammates on matchday.
"I think it's going to be nice to have that international break to really get the guys up and be at 100% sharpness," McKinstry said.
The league will take a short break until next month after the international break, when Kenya is scheduled to play Qatar and South Sudan in friendly games.
McKinstry revealed that goalkeeper Gad Mathews could be out for at least six months after undergoing surgery.
In his absence, youthful goalkeeper Caleb Otieno has been doing duty. "I think he did a good job and is not to blame for the goal," McKinstry rallied behind the former Gor Mahia Youth custodian.
Striker Patrick Kaddu is also out with a knee injury, but the coach revealed he could be back sooner as the injury was not serious.
Also on the doctor's table is Rwandan defender Emery Bayisenge.









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