COACH NUTTALL’S CASE FOR DEFENCE: Gor tactician says his defenders did not concede ‘easy’ goals in Cecafa final

Karim Nizigiyimana (R) of Gor Mahia FC protest after their CECAFA-Kagame Club tournament finals match against Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 02, 2015. Azam FC won 2-0. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.pic-centre.com/CECAFA. (TANZANIA)

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall has defended his defence following accusations that they conceded an easy second goal against Azam in Sunday’s Cecafa Kagame Cup final in Dar es Salaam.

Nuttall who admitted they could have done better, called on fans to look at the team’s positive run in the competition instead- a feat he said they achieved despite massive financial challenges due to lack of a sponsor.

“When you look at the second goal, it does not look like our players were standing in the right place. To concede a goal from such a position is disappointing but we must not just focus on the negatives.

“Before that, we also had an opportunity to score and perhaps send the match to extra time. It should also be remembered that we went to the final despite lack of a sponsor for the last 16 months yet still managed to perform at a high level against some well-supported teams,”he said.

Speaking about the goal, goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch said he thought Kipre Tche Tche’s free kick was going out.

He said:” From where I was standing, I thought the ball was going out. When I realised it was actually coming towards goal, it was too late for me to react, otherwise I would have hit my head on the goal post if I had tried going for it.”

Oluoch who was named goalkeeper of the tournament said he was surprised by the honour but will gladly take it.

“I don’t think I deserved it, but then again I could not refuse it now that they gave it to me.”

Regarding the performance of the team he said: ”We had a good tournament and surpassed our expectations.

Many thought we would not go far yet we got to the final.”

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia striker Michael Olunga is not surprised by his performance at the just concluded regional club championships in Tanzania. The towering forward said he had set himself a target to score five goals and is glad to have achieved that goal.

“When I left Nairobi, my aim was to score five goals. Anything above that would have been a bonus and I am glad it happened,” he said.

He paid glowing tribute to coach Nuttall for instilling discipline and a sense of confidence in the playing unit.

“We always knew this was going to be difficult because Kenyan clubs have not been doing well at the regional level, but the coach instilled a sense of confidence and discipline in us,” he said.