Rugged midfielder believes Gor Mahia have mettle to reach Confederation Cup semis

Long-serving Gor Mahia midfeldert Ernest Wendo believes that the club has a realistic chance of advancing to the semi finals of the CAF Confederation Cup should they book a slot in the group stages.

The record Kenyan champions will be looking to return to the pools after two seasons in the cold when they face Congolese side AS Otoho in the playoff. The first leg is scheduled for November 26-28 before hosting the second leg in Nairobi a week later.

Gor comfortably rode to the pool’s curtain raiser after edging Sudanese side Al Ahly Merowe 3-1 in the first leg as the return leg was canceled by the continental body after the latter failed to show up in Nairobi.

K’Ogalo head coach Mark Harrison will have to do without a large chunk of his players who missed out on the registration owing to the ban imposed on the club by FIFA. The players will only feature in the continentals starting from the group stages should the club get its name off Zurich’s red list.

Wendo who is in his seventh season at the club says the club stands a chance of reaching the semis should the new players be registered. With Otoho lying in wait, the defensive midfielder said the available players are hungry to skin them alive and restore their fast fading continental glory.

“ We want to give our best and at least reach to the semi finals of the Continental Cup. Before then, we have an important game against Otoho that we have been preparing for and have a chance of carrying the day. It will be easier for us once we qualify to the group stages as the new players will be available for selection,” he said.

Wendo who returned to the team in their barren draw against Ulinzi Stars on Wednesday in the meantime waxed lyrical on his understudies for the shielding the defence while he was away handling family issues .

Apart from the former Bidco United midfielder Harrison has the duo of John Ochieng and Peter Oudu to select for the defensive midfield roles. Oudu was signed from Kariobangi Sharks before the new season.