•Two of K'Ogalo's league games were rescheduled so they could have more time to prepare for their disastrous Champions League run.
•Their delayed campaign kicks off in earnest on Saturday against Mathare United who are yet to win a game this season.
Image: HANDOUT
Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva believes his charges can move past their heartbreaking exit from the Caf Champions League and successfully contend for the Kenyan Premier League title.
Two of K'Ogalo's league games were rescheduled so they could have more time to prepare for their disastrous Champions League run.
Their delayed campaign kicks off in earnest on Saturday against Mathare United who are yet to win a game this season.
"For the time being, we want to bounce back from these two challenging games and make sure we bring this level, energy and effort to the Premier League," Neiva said.
"We can't dwell on our appalling performance indefinitely. That is now irrelevant. Now, we have to turn our attention to the local competition and do everything within our power to give it our best shot," he continued.
He now has to deal with the difficult task of reorganising his squad amidst reports of internal strife.
Trouble is brewing at the record Kenyan champions with reports that the Brazilian gaffer faces defiance from a few senior players.
According to impeccable sources who spoke to the Star, mercurial right-back Rooney Onyang, who represented Kenya in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, was left out of the matchday roster after a nasty fallout with the coach.
This came after Neiva decided to play Onyango out of position as a centre forward. "Some players firmly believe that the coach is excessively authoritarian and rarely seeks their input before making decisions. His decision to play Rooney as a centre forward even though everyone knows he is more at ease as a right back is a prime example," our source said.
Onyango was left out of the matchday squad over disciplinary issues. This followed a reported fallout between Onyango and coach Neiva in the buildup to the crucial second leg.
The 24-year-old, who has relegated skipper Philemon Otieno to the bench with his outstanding performances, was allegedly not the only player dissatisfied with Neiva's leadership.
Midfielder Austin Odhiambo, last season’s Most Valuable Player in the Kenyan league, has also had a run-in with the coach. He was left out of the squad for the Cecafa Kagame Cup.
The playing unit is divided down the middle with some squad members claiming they are usually short-changed when incentives are distributed.
“Some players feel they contribute to the team's success more than others and tend to claim a bigger portion of prize money and other goodies we receive," a player said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Neiva reckons his charges gleaned vital lessons from their Caf Champions League defeat.
"It gave us some good exposure and experience abroad while learning more about how to play this level of football," he said.
"In all honesty, Gor Mahia can't be compared to Al Ahly who are in a different league and have better resources, a training facility, a stadium, and more," he said.
"But with the right planning, we might witness Gor Mahia achieve the same status,” he added.