Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Tusker's Khalid Aucho on the verge of joining Gor Mahia
Tusker FC's Ugandan midfielder Khalid Aucho (right) in action during a past match. Aucho is on the verge of joining Gor Mahia on a free transfer. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
After losing three of their stars from the side that won them a record 14th Kenyan Premier League title in 2014, Gor Mahia have started the process of restructuring ahead of the new season with highly rated Uganda international midfielder Khalid Aucho on the verge of joining their camp.
The Uganda Cranes player is topping the list of marquee and fringe signings by the club in the January transfer window ahead of their official unveiling on Thursday at the club secretariat.
Aucho is set to join K’Ogalo from cross town rivals Tusker where he turned out for two years but opted for a new challenge after failing to agree on a new deal with the Ruaraka-based giants.
The midfielder is seen as a direct replacement for his compatriot Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito who ditched Gor for a Vietnamese club. He will pocket Sh1.8 million in sign-on-fee in the deal.
Other new signings that the glamour club will parade include former Tusker and Coastal Union midfielder Jerry Santos, Burundian Pierre Kwizera, Ugandan Farouk Sentongo and lanky Kenyan striker Michael Olunga.
ODHIAMBO JOINS GOR
K’Ogalo is also keen to rope in defender Bernard Odhiambo from relegated Nakuru AllStars. Odhiambo is a younger brother of the immediate former club vice-captain David ‘Calabar’ Owino who ditched the club for Zambian champions Zesco United FC on Monday.
The new signings join Boniface Oluoch (Tusker), Timothy Otieno (JMJ Academy), Martin Werunga (Talanta Academy) and Ghanaian striker Taofiq Zachary, 20, signed from United Arab Emirates outfit Al Shaab FC who had earlier penned deal at Gor.
All the new signings have been offered long terms deals with the exception of Olunga who has penned a one-year contract.
At the same time, the club’s Scot head coach Frank Nuttall jetted in on Wednesday after a seven-week holiday in his native country and will assess the new recruits. Only 15 players took part in Wednesday morning's training session at the Nairobi City Stadium under the stewardship of deputy coaches Frank Ouna and club legend turned coach John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla.
TOUGH ASSIGNMENT
Gor will be representing the country in the African Champions League and Ouna expressed optimism that they will make it to the group stages.
“We can only hope that the new recruits will step up and show their quality. We have lost some big, big players but I’m confident the new players will step up.
“At times you are forced to change the system of play to fit new players and it’s one of the alternatives we will be looking at,” he explained. “Our main aim is to get to the group stages,” he said.
Club goalie and skipper Jerim Onyango decried the loss of last term’s lead striker and Golden Boot winner Dan Sserunkuma, Kizito and Owino but oozed confidence of his side’s chances of retaining the gong.
"It’s a big blow to lose three key players but I’m happy for them and wish them all the best. Last season’s performance in the continental campaign was an eye opener and we want to do better this season and also work on retaining the league trophy,” he said.