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Confederation Cup debut for Kenyans

A Kenyan club that sacked a coach during a league fixture make their African Confederation Cup debut this weekend when APR of Rwanda visit Nairobi.

A Kenyan club that sacked a coach during a league fixture make their African Confederation Cup debut this weekend when APR of Rwanda visit Nairobi.

Gor Mahia were once regular competitors on the international circuit and lifted the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup 22 years ago with a shock away-goal success over Esperance of Tunisia.

But a decline in the fortunes of a club formed four decades ago means they have not competed in Africa since 1998, when they made a first-round exit from the CAF Cup, another competition that has been dropped.

This fall from grace did not go down well with supporters and when they demanded coach Sammy Omollo be fired after their heroes fell behind in a domestic fixture last April, nervous officials hastily obliged.

"Whoever takes over from me will be in deep trouble because the supporters are dictating terms," former national team defender Omollo warned in a statement that proved prophetic.

Maurice Tunda lasted one fixture and Allan Thigo two months before incumbent James Siang'a took charge in mid-2008 and guided Gor to a 2-0 win over Posta Rangers in the national cup final and secured a ticket to Africa. - Sapa-AFP

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