Why Al Hilal ‘chickened out’ of Gor Mahia friendly
Sudanese club Al Hilal opted against facing Gor Mahia in a friendly match in Machakos on Tuesday after the visiting team’s technical bench raised concerns over the physical nature of Kenyan football.
Nairobi News understands the Sudan champions who’ve been in Kenya for a week-long training camp were interested in taking part in atleast four friendly games.
Consequently, the team’s contingent in Nairobi sent out requests to among other AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia and Sofapaka.
PHYSICAL GAME
Thereafter however, the schedule changed after they played against and lost 4-2 to Leopards in Machakos on Sunday.
“Leopards played a very physical game and we lost four of our dependable players owing to injuries after that game. We couldn’t risk playing any other game here considering we have a shallow squad. Seven of our players were with the national team at the Africa Nations Championship in Morocco,” one club official explained.
Al Hilal, who are ranked among the top 10 clubs in the continent, are preparing to face Liberian side LISCR in the opening round of the Caf Africa Champions League in Monrovia this weekend.
Leopards and Gor Mahia meanwhile, are slated to play Malagasy side FOSA Juniors and Vegetenarios from Equatorial Guinea respectively.