Football
Andrew Jackson Oryada Snr, KweséESPN 6y

USM Alger at Confed Cup disadvantage, says Gor Mahia's Aduda

USM Alger could be at a disadvantage in the CAF Confederation Cup after being pitted alongside three East African teams, according to Gor Mahia Chief Executive Lordvick Aduda.

Gor Mahia were pooled into Group D in Saturday's draw, and will have to face CECAFA duo Rayon Sports of Rwanda and Tanzania's Young Africans, although favourites to progress are USMA.

The Algerians were runners-up in the CAF Champions League in 2015, although Aduda believes they could be at a disadvantage in this year's competition.

"This draw is good for us and we should plan well for all the games," Aduda told KweséESPN. "We are happy with this draw as a club.

"In my view it is a fair draw to all teams save for the Algerians when it comes to traveling, given that they have to make three trips to come and play the three teams from this region."

The draw offers some financial relief for the three East African sides, whose transport bills will be reduced by their relatively local trips.

"We have been traveling, but I sincerely doubt if people really know that we even run a monthly wage bill of $500,000 without defaulting," Aduda. "The unfortunate mishap of the South Africa trip should not be used to judge the status of the club."

CECAFA's other representatives, Al Hilal of Sudan, have been placed in Group B alongside Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Al Masry (Egypt) and Mozambique's UD Songo.

Nicholas Musonye, the Cecafa Secretary General, told KweséESPN that he is happy that four teams from the region have made it through to the group stage.

"Our three teams facing off in the same group will create some form of rivalry which will make the games explosive and well attended," he began.

"This is an excellent performance by our zone," Musonye continued. "We expect to place two teams in the semis of the Confederation Cup and we also wish KCCA FC a good run [in the Confederation Cup].

"These five clubs have raised the CECAFA profile in African football and we want to keep that momentum."

^ Back to Top ^