It is not common to find a manager under pressure in only their second game in charge at a new club.
But Gor Mahia is not your usual football team.
And newly appointed Brazilian tactician Leo Neiva will have all eyes on him when the record Kenyan champions host South Sudan outfit Al Merreikh Bentiu on Sunday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Having succumbed to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the 24/25 CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round, K’Ogalo need nothing short of a 2-0 win at home to secure their ticket to the Second Preliminary Round of the prestigious continental tournament where Egyptian giants Al Ahly await.
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More importantly, Neiva needs a statement performance from his team to quell any early criticism that is starting to crawl his way since he took over from Johnathan McKinstry at the start of July 2024.
Since his appointment, Gor took part in the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2024 where they lost two matches and drew the other in the three games they took part in, scoring only once while conceding four times.
They went on to register back-to-back 1-0 wins against Fountain Gate as they completed their preseason but came undone by Al Merreikh in what was Neiva’s first official match in charge at the club.
After the game, the demanding fans pointed out that a team from the Republic of South Sudan – a country that was only founded in 2011 – should not present a challenge that Gor, with all their heritage, cannot overcome despite any recent developments in the game.
Heading into the return clash, it remains to be seen whether K’Ogalo can turn around the tie in front of their home fans who will have the very first chance to watch the team at home since the conclusion of the 23/24 Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
“We have a big plan just to win the game and to win with a big score. I believe we are going to qualify because the players are very ready to do that. We know that Al Merreikh will come here just to slow down the play from the first minute and waste time.
We are going to try and counter that by increasing the tempo of our play and keeping possession on our side. We have trained and we are ready for sure,” Neiva said ahead of the game.
Al Merreikh on their part arrived in the country on Wednesday and need to ensure they do not concede to confirm their spot in the Second Preliminary Round.
The match will kick off at 1500EAT.
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Gor Mahia Team News
Gor Mahia will be boosted by the return of Ronney Onyango who missed the first leg due to documentation issues.
They are also expected to benefit from another week of integration to players like Austin Odhiambo who may likely start in the second leg after getting thirty minutes in the first leg.
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke