Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva has admitted that his side’s humiliating exit from the CAF Champions League at the hands of defending champions Al Ahly was not entirely unexpected.
Neiva, who is managing the Kenyan giants in continental football for the first time, saw his team fall 3-0 in the return leg in Cairo on Saturday, September 21st, sealing a crushing 6-0 aggregate loss.
In the aftermath of the defeat Neiva gave an honest assessment of the massive gulf in class between Gor Mahia and the Egyptian powerhouse.
Speaking after the match ,the Brazilian tactician did not mince his words about the challenge his side faced.
“We (Gor Mahia) must be humble and accept that Al Ahly is in another level of football about everything: financial, facilities, training centre, stadium and also they play in a very strong league,” Neiva remarked as quoted by Flashscore.
Al Ahly’s dominance was on full display, but Neiva believes it is essential for Gor Mahia to recognize their limitations and plan for the future.
“Honestly speaking, you cannot compare Gor Mahia to Al Ahly, but with proper planning, we may see Gor Mahia reach the same level in the near future,” he said.
Despite the loss, Neiva praised his players for showing improvement from the first leg, noting their better concentration and discipline in Cairo.
“The game, it was a good game for sure, tough game for us, but we managed well the first 20 to 25 minutes,” Neiva explained.
“They scored from set pieces/dead balls, they are very strong on this issue, and we were not alert enough to deal with the crosses.”
While Gor Mahia’s defensive lapses in set-piece situations contributed to their downfall, Neiva maintained that his team’s effort was commendable.
“We played with more concentration and focus than in the first leg,” Neiva said.
“Overall, I think it was an amazing opportunity to provide international experience and exposure for our players and to learn more on how to approach this level of football.”
However, Gor Mahia’s Champions League exit was overshadowed by reports of internal discord within the squad.
Defender Rooney Onyango, a rising star who was part of Kenya’s national team for the recent Africa Cup of Nation qualifiers, was left out of the matchday squad over disciplinary issues. This followed a reported fallout between Onyango and coach Neiva in the buildup to the crucial second leg.
The 24-year-old Onyango, who had relegated club captain Philemon Otieno to the bench with his stellar performances, was reportedly not the only player unhappy with Neiva’s leadership.
“Word within the club has it that some players have been unhappy with coach Neiva for his authoritarian approach,” the Daily Nation reported.
Midfielder Austin Odhiambo, last season’s Most Valuable Player in the Kenyan league, has also had a run-in with the coach.
Despite these internal challenges, Neiva is now turning his focus to the domestic front, as Gor Mahia aim for a third consecutive Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League title.
“For now, our plan is to recover from these two tough games and make sure we transfer this energy, effort, and level to the Premier League,” said Neiva.
“We must transfer this commitment to try to win the first game of the Premier League.”
Gor Mahia’s delayed FKF Premier League campaign begins on Saturday, September 28th with a match against promoted side Mathare United who are yet to win a game this season.
K’Ogalo’s first two league matches had been postponed to allow them time to prepare for their ill-fated Champions League campaign.
Neiva now faces the challenge of regrouping his squad amid internal tensions as they attempt to find success on the domestic stage after their continental disappointment.