Zied Machmoum’s header eight minutes to time handed Esperance a draw away from home in their second Group C match of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after playing to a 1-1 draw with CR Belouizdad in Algiers on Saturday.
Karim Aribi’s first half penalty had given the Algerians a first
“I think so far we don’t have any major injuries but Tito [Okello] is not with us because since the first leg he has never trained and I understand he is down with malaria so he is one guy I will not use tomorrow [Wednesday],” Omollo told
“Then, of course, Bernard Ondiek also, long-term injury and he was not with us in Algeria so those are the main concerns we have in terms of players.”
On the return of captain Kenneth Muguna, who missed the first leg fixture owing to injury, ‘Pamzo’ said: “I like how Muguna trained because when we went to Algeria he was not there but I saw him yesterday [Monday], and today [Tuesday] he looks sharper and he looks hungry to perform on Wednesday.
“We don’t have any pressure, I have spoken to the boys and urged them to enjoy the game, of course, it will be very important for us if we can get a good result and of course it will be a very good platform also if we are going to drop to the Confederation Cup, it will give us that opportunity to prepare more than before, than how we prepared for the Champions League,” Omollo told the club’s TV.
“This is football, and we are going to compete, we want to give our best and I have told the players no matter the result we got in Algiers, we have to give our best and get a good result, everybody is geared to win, everybody is prepared to play and the commitment I have seen from the players is very high and I am very confident we are going to get a good result.”
On Saturday, players were to report in training but a few fringe ones turned up. Remember, also current caretaker coach [Patrick] Odhiambo is also in his rural home with the family. If nothing is done, I doubt whether the Wednesday game will be played, or even if it will be played, results might be worse or close to the 6-0 loss suffered in the first leg.
Goal was unable to get an official club comment from chairman Ambrose Rachier, who is currently out of Nairobi.
In the first leg, the Great Chabab scored their goals through Amir Sayoud, who scored a hat-trick, Hamza Bellahouel, Larbi Tabti, and Maecky Ngombo during a thoroughly one-sided display at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 on Saturday, December 26.
Goal on Thursday. These players are very strong; they came into the match and struggled to get into the match. They had not trained at all and were really under difficult circumstances coming into the game. They gave their best against a very good and organised team and their fight on the pitch was evident. They deserve respect.
The Kenyan champions looked shaky at the back and struggled to stop the attacks by their hosts. The Posta Rangers coach has refused to blame his defenders for the goals conceded. If you look keenly on the way we conceded the goals, it was from individual mistakes, Omollo continued.