Hull City coach Nijel Adkins blamed weather conditions for their lethargic display in Sunday’s friendly against Gor Mahia at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
The visiting English Championship side won 4-3 on penalties after hard-fought goalless draw after 90 minutes.
In an interview with Ducor Sports, Adkins blamed bad weather and high attitude as the key factors that affected their style of play in a match that they could have won within normal time.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We haven’t played in temperatures this high so we couldn’t play the kind of fast paced football we like to play. Altitude was also a challenge for us and the match could have gone either way,”[/perfectpullquote]
Adkins said.
Substitute goal keeper, Callum Burton was the hero for the Tigers when he made three saves, the most crucial denying Cercidy Okeyo the chance to seal victory in the opening five.
K’Ogalo keeper, Boniface Onyango saved the first two from Hull to invite delirium from the fans before Burton who came on in the 68th produced his own heroics to stretch the shootout to sudden death.
In the normal time, Gor Mahia clearly dominated the duel though missing to utilize chances created to kill off the game but their coach Dylan Kerr was positive about his charges display.
“I tell my players all the time that they can be the best and the showed that. I’m sorry gaffer (Adkins) but we pumped you! The talent here is unbelievable and all it needs is support,”Gor Mahi coach Dylan Kerr stated in the aftermath of a landmark day in Kenya’s football.
“I hope that Football Kenya Federation, the Kenyan Premier League, the Ministry of Sport and Government can use what we saw today (Sunday) to develop football.”
The friendly tie will be considered as a perfect preparation match for Gor Mahia ahead of CAF Confederation Cup group stages fixture against USM Alger on Wednesday at the same venue.
