Gor Mahia's pre-season off to a false start after defeat to Rayon Sports
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 18.07.26. | 22:22
Attention now shifts to the CECAFA Kagame Cup, which kicks off later this month in Rwanda and will also serve as crucial preparation for Gor Mahia's CAF Champions League campaign
Gor Mahia's preparations for the upcoming CECAFA Kagame Cup got off to a disappointing start after the FKF Premier League champions fell 2-0 to Rwandan giants Rayon Sports in a pre-season friendly played during the club's annual Rayon Day celebrations at Pele Stadium in Kigali on Saturday.
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K'Ogalo looked set to head into the break on level terms before Togolese midfielder Atisso Kodjo broke the deadlock deep into first-half stoppage time, striking in the fourth minute of added time to hand the hosts a crucial advantage.
The Kenyan champions pushed for an equaliser after the restart, but their hopes were dashed in the dying moments when Cameroonian forward Junior Kameni sealed the victory with another stoppage-time goal in the third minute of added time.
While the scoreline handed Rayon Sports bragging rights on one of the biggest days on their calendar, the match served a different purpose for Gor Mahia, with head coach Charles Akonnor using the contest to assess his squad ahead of a demanding campaign on both the regional and continental fronts.
The Ghanaian tactician rang the changes after the break, handing opportunities to several new signings as he continued building his preferred squad.
Goalkeeper Humphery Katasi, striker Hansel Ochieng, and midfielder Enock Machaka were among those introduced in the contest as Akonnor tested different combinations and systems.
The encounter formed the centrepiece of Rayon Day, an annual celebration that officially launches the club's new season.
Thousands of supporters packed Pele Stadium to witness the unveiling of the team's new players, technical bench, new sponsor, Kigali Bank, and playing kit before entertainment performances set the stage for the headline friendly.
For Rayon, victory provides the perfect ending to the celebrations and an encouraging sign ahead of the CECAFA Kagame Cup, where they will be looking to challenge for regional honours on home soil.
For Gor Mahia, however, the defeat offered valuable lessons rather than cause for alarm.
With several fresh faces still adapting to life at the club, the friendly provided an opportunity to identify areas that require improvement before competitive football begins.
Attention now shifts to the CECAFA Kagame Cup, which kicks off later this month in Rwanda and will also serve as crucial preparation for Gor Mahia's CAF Champions League campaign.
K'Ogalo have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts APR, Ugandan champions Vipers SC and Djibouti's Garde Républicaine.
They will open their campaign against Garde Républicaine before taking on Vipers and wrapping up the group stage with a mouthwatering clash against APR.
Rayon Sports are also using the tournament to sharpen their squad ahead of the new domestic season. The Rwandan giants have been placed in Group B alongside Tanzania's Azam, South Sudan's Al Merrikh Bentiu and Zanzibar champions KVZ.