Gor Mahia held their first training session in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday ahead of the CAF Champions League return leg against Pyramids FC on Sunday, September 13. Head coach Charles Akonnor expressed satisfaction with the team's adaptation as they prepare to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit after losing the first meeting in Nairobi.
Akonnor noted the favorable weather, training facilities, and players' acclimatization to the conditions. “Our first day training, good weather, good atmosphere, good grounds. The boys have picked very well in terms of acclimatizing. And so far it’s been very good,” Akonnor said.
The Ghanaian coach acknowledged the difficult task awaiting his side but emphasized that Gor Mahia would build on their improved second-half performance in the first leg while correcting the mistakes that proved costly. “First of all, it has to take a miracle for us to jump this hurdle. It's a very tough one but if you look at how we played, especially in the second half, we want to build on that.”
“The mistakes we made in our previous match against them, we don't have to repeat. They're little details but they're a very strong side and once you make mistakes, they punish you. The first half was bad in our first match. We allowed too many chances and spaces for them to operate but the second half got better. We will have to be tight on them.”
Captain Mike Kibwage stated that the players were in good health and ready for the challenge, adding that the squad remained motivated despite the disappointment of the first-leg result. “We are in good health and we have had our first session here. We are ready for the task ahead. We know it's a big mountain to climb but we're going to give it our all. Just like they won at our home, we are confident that we can still change and turn things around on Sunday.”
Kibwage mentioned that the team had worked to lift the mood in camp and believed the journey to Cairo had further motivated the players to push for a positive result. “We believe we have boosted ourselves and the morale is high. We have to push, and the boys know exactly what to do.”
He added that Gor Mahia's experience playing night matches during the CECAFA tournament could help the team adjust to Sunday’s evening kick-off. Meanwhile, Secretary General Nic Arum reported that the team had a smooth journey from Nairobi and had settled in well despite minor communication challenges after arriving in Cairo. “The reception was fair, although we had some challenges communicating with some of the guides because of the language barrier but we can say, so far so good. The team arrived well, we are in training now and I can see the boys are up to the task. They're going through the paces.”
Gor Mahia will continue their preparations in Cairo ahead of Sunday’s return leg as they seek to overturn the two-goal deficit against Pyramids FC.
