Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva believes Saturday’s showdown with Egyptian giants Al Ahly offers a golden opportunity for his players to market themselves regardless of the result.
K'Ogalo take on the Egyptians at the 30,000-seater Al Salam Stadium in Cairo at 7 p.m (CAT) in the second leg of CAF Champions League second preliminary round fixture.
In the first-leg encounter at the Nyayo Stadium, Rami Rabia fired Al Ahly into the lead in minute 14 before Percy Tau’s clinical brace in the 16th and 74th minutes gave the Egyptians a commanding lead heading into Saturday's reverse.
“This game is crucial, not just for qualification, but for the exposure. Irrespective of the results, this game is important for the players to get experience and expose themselves to this level of football and maybe later they can get big proposals,” Neiva noted.
He highlighted K'Ogalo's style of play which stunned the visiting team and their supporters.
"The Egyptian journalists told me they were surprised with the kind of football we played in the first leg. We had good possession and tempo. It's uncommon to see them sit back like they did in the previous game," he added.
After a two-year ban from continental competitions, Neiva believes this game is a vital step in getting the team back on track.
"We’ve been out of continental football for over two years and this match is part of our journey to return to the highest level," he concluded.
He is optimistic his charges can overturn the deficit in Cairo.
"We’re not going to sit back like we did last time. We’re coming here to play good football and secure a win,” said Neiva.
The Brazilian tactician was quick to admit that defensive lapses in Nairobi cost them dearly.
"We conceded too many avoidable goals in the first leg,” he added.
Training has been intense with the team focused on acclimatising to Cairo’s conditions as they prepare to face the most successful club in African football.
"The boys had a light session when we arrived. We’re working on adapting to the weather and playing under the lights," he said.
Gor Mahia left Nairobi for Cairo on Thursday and arrived later in the evening.
K'Ogalo booked a date with Al Ahly after a resounding 5-2 aggregate win against South Sudan’s Al Merriekh Bentiu.
