Embattled Gor utility man Onyango cleared to face KCB

Embattled Gor Mahia utility man Rooney Onyango has been cleared by the technical bench and will be available for selection in today’s match against KCB.

Assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno says the Kenyan International is fully back in training with the rest of the team.

 ‘’It is true the technical bench has cleared Rooney and he is back in training. If the head coach deems him fit for selection today, he will definitely be fielded,’’ said ‘Zico’.

The assistant coach, however, says it will be at the discretion of the technical bench to decide on the position to play the player, after serving a snub following an altercation with the head coach Leonardo Martins Neiva over his preferred position in the field of play.  

Onyango had for long been sidelined by the technical bench for disciplinary issues after he declined to play in the position the coach deemed fit for him.

 ‘’Talking about positions, this is fully in the hands of the technical bench. We will decide on the position we feel is best for Rooney in order for his services to be beneficial to the team’’.

Despite the now lifted suspension, Onyango was in the National team squad that played against Cameroon with coach Engin Firat distancing himself from the disciplinary action he was facing at Gor.

Gor Mahia will play their third KPL match today against unbeaten league leaders KCB at the Dandora Stadium beginning at 4.00 pm.

KCB has so far played five matches, winning four and sharing spoils once, with Gor Mahia looking for their third win in as many matches.

Zico has previously served as the KCB head coach and came close to winning the FKF PL title in the 2020-2021 season, just three points shy of Tusker FC who won the title.

It will be interesting to see how ‘Zico’ will help the head coach trounce his former employer, as both teams are among the five unbeaten teams this season.

The other unbeaten teams in the league are coastal side Bandari FC, Kariobangi Sharks and Kenya Police FC. In their last three meetings, the teams have settled for two barren draws and a one all draw. A win for KCB will further their lead in the league to 16 points while Gor will leap to nine points if they win today.

In an earlier interview, head coach Leonardo Neiva made it clear that he intends to build a youthful Gor Mahia come next season, meaning a lot of changes may be witnessed in the club mid-season and perhaps at the end of the season.

‘’I intend to build a youthful team that will be consistent. The old experienced players in the team will have to re-consider their football circle,’’ he said.

 Gor Mahia failed in their attempt to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League after a 6-0 defeat to Egypt’s Al Ahly in the two legs of the preliminary rounds. 

They started the league well by dismissing Mathare United 4-0 in Machakos and later posting three mails for free in the Posta Rangers post box.