This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
On April 18, 2019, Tusker FC's Clyde Senaji and SonySugar FC's Tobias Otieno faced off in a KPL match at Kenyatta Stadium.
Fast forward to the Cecafa Kagame Cup, where Otieno and Nairobi Stima striker Dennis Oalo are now enjoying life at their new club, Gor Mahia, as they prepare for their final Group D match against KMKM at 2pm today at the Omuganda Stadium in Rwanda.
Gor Mahia have qualified for the quarter-finals after winning their opening two group matches against Congolese side AS Maniema (2-1) and Djibouti champions AS Ports (2-0).
"I didn't expect to make my debut with an assist. I believe we have what it takes to win this tournament and end the club's 34-year trophy drought," Otieno told Standard Sports.
"I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to fight for a place in the starting line up and manage the pressure. I think this a big chance for me to showcase my talent, get a national team call up and even go abroad," he added.
His new teammate Oalo said, "I think I repaid the coach's trust with a goal in our second game. When you play for a team like Gor Mahia you have to prove your worthiness. The pressure is not on me, it is on the fans because I work under coach's instructions. I will do my job as a striker on the pitch and leave it for the fans to judge. Though I still have a long way to go, I really want to leave a mark at this great club."
Head coach Hassan Oktay insists the new signings must improve to reach K'Ogalo's level, saying, "Playing for Gor comes with pressure, the new signings must improve. They need to work extra hard because they still have a long way to go. They need to be mentally and physically fit to play in all of our competitions."
