Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva says he is using the CECAFA Kagame Cup as a laboratory to test his players and himself ahead of the upcoming season.
Neiva acknowledges that his side needs a win to survive in the tournament as they face Ali Sabieh in their second group-stage match.
Gor Mahia coach
The coach, who recently took over following the departure of Johnathan McKinstry, aims to use the preseason to improve the team’s tactical play.
“Both teams are looking for a win. If we cannot get the win, we cannot survive in the tournament. But this is like preparation for both sides,” Neiva stated.
He emphasized that his focus during the preseason tournament is on how well his players absorb his tactics rather than just the results.
“I am going to use the cup as a laboratory and a test for the players and even for me. I need to observe them and check their performance. Sometimes we can win, draw, or lose, but if the players get the correct tactical approach, I am satisfied,” he added.
Neiva also reflected on the team’s previous match, saying, “For example, against Arrow, we didn’t have a good first half, but we fixed it in the second half.”
He urged Gor Mahia fans to be patient as the focus is on the tactical development of the team during the preseason, even though the aim is to win.
“To the fans, we are going to think about the wins, but in this preseason, we can focus more on the tactical aspects,” he explained.
Gor Mahia match details
Gor Mahia will face Djibouti’s Telkom Ali Sabieh on July 13, 2024, at 9:00 p.m., and their final group stage match will be against Al Hilal FC from Sudan at 4:00 p.m. on July 17, 2024.
Organized under the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), the tournament provides an essential preseason platform for teams gearing up for the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League, CAF Confederations Cup, and domestic leagues.
Tanzania’s Simba SC boasts the most CECAFA Kagame Cup titles with six, followed closely by Young Africans SC (Tanzania) and Tusker FC (Kenya) with five each.
Other prominent teams with multiple wins include APR FC (Rwanda), Al Merriekh (Sudan), SC Villa (Uganda), and Gor Mahia FC (Kenya).
In 2023, the CECAFA Kagame Cup was canceled due to scheduling conflicts with the busy CAF/FIFA calendar. However, CECAFA has designated Zanzibar as the host for the 2024 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
CECAFA Kagame Cup pools
Groups A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)
Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)
Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)
