Gor Head Coach Oktay: We Must Beat Petro Atletico On Sunday

CAIRO, Egypt- Gor Mahia FC coach Hassan Oktay has rallied his side to beat Angolan visitors Petro Atletico de Luanda in Nairobi on Sunday to realise their dream of punching their ticket to the CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinals. 

The SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions will qualify for the last eight of the second-tier continental competition with victory over the Angolans in the final round of Pool D matches regardless of what happens in the other match between NA Hussein Dey and Zamalek FC in Algiers.

Speaking following their 0-4 reverse away to Zamalek on Sunday night, Oktay conceded his side were beaten by the better side and suffered mostly due to inexperience.

Pool favourites and five-time African champions, Zamalek revenged their shock 2-4 defeat to the record 17-time Kenyan league champions on February 2 in Nairobi to take control of the keenly contested Group D on eight points, with Petro (seven), Hussein Dey (seven) and Gor (six) trailing in that order ahead of the final round of fixtures.

Defender Mahmoud Alaa and Youssef Obama scored in the first half before Egyptian nationals Ferjan Sassi and Oumar El Said added late strikes to seal the 4-0 triumph.

Oktay insisted they will leave nothing to chance on Sunday where victory over the Luanda giants will ensure they finish among the top two and qualify for the Confed Cup quarters for the first time.

“We are going to give 100 percent in the final group game, nothing less, we’ve got to do it,” The Turkish tactician charged.

READ ALSO: CAF Confed Cup: Zamalek Avenge Gor Loss To Go Top Of Group D

Gor were far from the form they displayed in the reverse encounter in front of the K’Ogalo faithful at the Kasarani Stadium and capitulated against the charging Cairo titans despite spending the whole of the week in Egypt following their controversial 0-1 loss in Algiers to Hussein Dey.

Zamalek, who lead the Egyptian league standings with a game in hand, exploited the visitors lack of solidity in their back line and looked dangerous every time they launched an attack.

“They had nine players who featured in the last World Cup finals. They have the experience which we don’t have and they deserved it,” Oktay pointed out.

The introduction of Kenya record goal scorer Dennis Oliech at half time did little to raise Gor's game as the visitors failed to create clear cut chances.

Trusted defender Joash Onyango was ruled out with a rib injury and the center back partnership of Captain Harun Shakava and Charles Momanyi was not solid enough to stop the flurry of goals.

“You find that you note so many weaknesses in your team whenever playing outside the country and you try to improve them.

RECOMMENDED READ: SPL Round 17: Here Is The SportPesa News Team Of The Week

“The more they play away from home, the more they improve themselves,” Oktay added.

Gor are set to return to the country later Monday before taking to the field on Wednesday in a SPL clash against Kakamega Homeboyz FC.