Gor Mahia coach explains the selection headache he is faced with ahead of Shabana clash

© Gor Mahia.

Gor Mahia coach explains the selection headache he is faced with ahead of Shabana clash

Joel Omotto 06:34 - 10.05.2024

Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry has revealed the difficult choices he is faced with to select the first XI that will take on Shabana in Kusumu on Saturday.

Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry is delighted that he has nearly all of his squad to choose from ahead of his team’s FKF Premier League match against Shabana FC in Kisumu on Saturday.

McKinstry will only be without defender Joshua Onyango and goalkeeper Kevin Omondi who are serving suspensions.

Onyango will be out for one game after accumulating five yellow cards while Omondi will be missing his last game after his red card against AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji Derby.

That leaves McKinstry with an entire squad to choose from for the ‘Nyanza derby’ that has great significance at both ends of the table.

“We have a couple of suspensions this week, Joshua Onyango picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last week against Murang’a Seal. However, we do welcome Geoffrey Ochieng back for consideration after completing his suspension,” McKinstry said.

“Kevin Omondi still has one more game to serve after his red card but overall, everyone is looking fresh and determined. Players always want to play but especially in the business end of the season when the prizes are getting handed out, players want to be involved in those games.

“Training has been good this week and it is a difficult choice for me and the technical bench of who plays and who stays behind in Nairobi.”

With left-back Geoffrey Ochieng returning, McKinstry will have the luxury of playing Bryson Wangai on the wing after he played in defence for large parts of last week’s encounter against Murang’a Seal while young goalkeeper Caleb Otieno looks set to continue in goal in the absence of Omondi.

McKinstry will have to decide whom to partner in defence after Joshua Onyango and Sylvester Owino played at centre-back last week. Kennedy Onyango and Rwandan ace Emery Bayisenge are in contention or one of them could play alongside Owino.

Gor Mahia will be looking for three more points at the Mamboleo Showground as they march to a second successive league title while Shabana are fighting for their lives as they are in a relegation fight.

Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo’s side are on a four-game unbeaten run that has yielded three wins and a draw, lifting them out of the bottom three, and they will be hoping to get something from K’Ogalo who beat them 1-0 in the first leg in November.

Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates.