Embattled Gor Mahia utility player 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 confirmed that the Kenyan international has fully returned to training with 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.’
However, Otieno noted that it will be up to the technical bench to determine Onyango’s position on the field after he faced a snub due to an altercation with head coach Leonardo Martins Neiva regarding his preferred playing position. Onyango had been sidelined for a while due to disciplinary issues stemming from his refusal to play in a position designated by the coach.
“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,” he added.
Despite the lifting of his suspension, Onyango was included in the national team squad that faced Cameroon, with coach Engin Firat distancing himself from the disciplinary actions at Gor Mahia.
Gor Mahia will play their third Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match today against unbeaten league leaders KCB at Dandora Stadium, starting at 4:00 PM. KCB has played five matches so far, winning four and drawing once, while Gor Mahia aims for their third consecutive win.
Zico, a former head coach of KCB who narrowly missed the FKF Premier League title in the 2020-2021 season, is expected to use his experience to help Gor Mahia secure a win against his former team.
Both teams are currently among the five unbeaten sides this season, alongside Bandari FC, Kariobangi Sharks, and Kenya Police FC. In their last three encounters, the teams have ended in two goalless draws and one 1-1 draw. A win for KCB will extend their lead in the league to 16 points, while Gor Mahia could rise to nine points with a victory today.
In a prior interview, head coach Leonardo Neiva expressed his intention to build a youthful Gor Mahia team for the next season, indicating that significant changes may occur mid-season and at the end of the current season.
“I intend to build a youthful team that will be consistent. The old experienced players in the team will have to reconsider their football circle,” he stated.
Gor Mahia’s recent attempts to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League were unsuccessful, culminating in a 6-0 defeat to Egypt’s Al Ahly over two legs in the preliminary rounds. They kicked off the league successfully, first defeating Mathare United 4-0 in Machakos and then posting a 3-0 win against Posta Rangers.
