Battle-hardened Gor Mahia left back Geoffrey Ochieng has stressed on the significance of the club participating in a sanctioned league as well as returning to the CAF inter-club competitions.The national teams and clubs are currently locked out of international football as FIFA suspended the country in February for government interference with the running of the game.##NAJAVA_MECA_6745595##The outcome of the suspension has been there for all to see as last season’s league winners Tusker were barred from representing the country in the CAF Champions League while the national teams have missed important assignments.Olunga on course for third Golden Boot after finishing as Group Stage top scorer in Qatar CupWith the talks to have the suspension gathering steam following the assurance by the Cabinet Secretary for Sports nominee Ababu Namwamba to have a conversation with Zurich on day one should he assume office, Ochieng is hoping that Kenya will be struck off the bad books.The left back who has amassed experience at the continental level said it was needless to wrestle the title from Tusker’s hands if they would not ultimately proceed to the next phase.”Our target is to win the league and retain the Cup that is still in our possession. We all want an assurance that we will play in a sanctioned league,” he said.With the league scheduled to start next month, Ochieng is warning teams against underrating Gor who have a fairly young squad.Gor Mahia coach anticipating fierce league contest after gauging Ulinzi StarsK’Ogalo were forced to promote young players from their youth team thanks to the transfer ban the club is serving for defaulting payments to their former foreign players.”We have a good and a balanced team. The new players have adapted well and I am sure they will do well in the league,” said the former Western Stima man.
