Gor Feel Finch Farm, Everton Medicals On Day One Of UK Tour

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom- The cold winter breeze and the low temperatures made it hard to get out of bed but keep you alert once you’re up as the Gor Mahia FC players learnt early Saturday morning.

A hearty breakfast was shared with lots of banter having reunited with their head coach Dylan Kerr, who had been in his native county for the past two weeks already, plenty of assumptions going round that he came on a spy mission.

Shortly after, knowing the Brits and their strict timing, an official from the nine-time English Premier League Champions, Everton FC ushered the players and the technical bench into a modern green bus parked outside the hotel to take them to the elite USM Finch Farm training ground.

The 20-minute drive provides a fabulous view of the city of Liverpool and into a posh neighbourhood on a road leading out of the famous football capital.

Gor players could keep their excitement and awe contained throughout the ride as the further we go, the more football fields and facilities become.

Lush and well-manicured lawns on both sides of the street was a lovely sight for the players as they got a feel of just how seriously football is taken in this part of the world.

Opposing side

All around them, players from youth academies and age sides were busy going through their drills, perfecting their art for the future.

“This is absolutely amazing. Look at that grass, I mean if we had at least two of these back home, we would be unbeatable,” Gor Mahia FC assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno muttered.

His senior, Dylan Kerr joined in the conversation and said: “The quality of the pitch is amazing and seeing all these kids out to play on a Saturday morning brings joy to my heart.”

No sooner had the conversation about the level of the facilities reached its peak than the bus turned left onto a lonely one-way street with tall trees on the side leading to the famous Finch Farm training grounds.

The reception is warm and brings with it a strong sense of belonging. Despite always receiving shouts and greetings back home because of a sense of ‘celebrity status’ as the most decorated Kenyan side, this was different.

They were here as visitors and are set to play against their home team in the SportPesa Trophy on Tuesday night starting at 10pm Kenyan time and despite being an opposing side, Gor are being treated with utmost respect and kindness that reminded everyone that indeed the beautiful game brings people together.

Everton medical

After a brief photo session outside the premises, the entire team was shepherded into a room where they got changed before heading out onto the astounding grounds to take part in a short session before a medical with the experienced Everton staff.

"The grass is perfect. The quality has made me forget about the cold and heavy wind blowing, I just want a ball at my feet,” Kenya international midfielder Francis Kahata told SportPesa News.

Located in Halewood in Merseyside, the training ground was acquired by Everton in 2006 and was officially opened on October 9 the following year.

It’s nick named ‘The School of Science’ and has seen football talent of international repute walk through its tall blue and white gates.

The likes of Wayne Rooney, the clubs top scorer Romelu Lukaku who plays for Manchester United FC and the second highest African goal scorer in the English Premier League Yakubu Ayiegbeni just to name a few.

After the hour-long session, the players retreated to the locker rooms to get changed before being welcomed to an early lunch by the pleasant staff at the grounds before heading to the iconic Goodison Park.

A chance to look at the stadium where they will take on Everton and the once in a lifetime opportunity to watch an EPL game was the agenda of the cold and breezy afternoon.

Gor were given a special invite to attend the match as Everton take on Brighton and Hove Albion FC at 3pm local time (6pm EAT).

-Louis Kalinga is reporting for SportPesa News from Liverpool, England