As per coach Johnathan McKinstry, Ugandan import Shafiq Kagimu did “exceptionally” and “integrated well” in the midfield on debut as Gor Mahia thumped the weeping boys of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) Vihiga Bullets FC 5-0 in a midweek clash on Wednesday at Kasarani Stadium.Kagimu, 24, was amongst eight new signings K’Ogalo made during the February-March transfer window after FIFA, the global football body, lifted a transfer ban it had imposed on the club that prevented it from signing fresh players from outside its hierarchy over the last two transfer windows.Yet, it was Kigimu’s countryman Patrick Kaddu, who shone brightest on the day, bagging a hat-trick, also on debut. Defenders Sylvester Owino and Emery Bayisenge of Rwanda were also handed their first games in the all-green colors.##NAJAVA_MECA_7142254##In his first media appearance since joining Gor Mahia, Kagimu, who signed a one-year contract and not a four-month deal as was initially reported, told Mozzart Sport that he was attracted by the club’s rich history.”Gor Mahia is one of the best teams in Africa, and any player would wish to play for them if he gets an opportunity. It has a rich football history, passionate fans and has won a number of trophies in Kenya, and competed many times in the continental championships, including the African Champions League and Confederation Cup,” the diminutive midfielder, nicknamed Kuchi, said.On penning a year-deal, Kagimu, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Management from Kampala University, said “I signed with the team a one year contract because that’s the opportunity the team chose to offer me.””I’m well settled in, warmly welcomed by my teammates and we are doing good as a group,” he added.Kagimu is no stranger to McKinstry whom he has worked with previously at the Uganda Cranes and won the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, but he says the Irishman did not influence his decision to cross over to Kenya and join K’Ogalo. “He introduced me to the opportunity which I gladly grabbed with both hands, and I’m now a K’Ogalo, the green army.”Gor Mahia sign Uganda international midfielder Shafiq KagimuHe describes the former Rwanda and Sierra Leone manager as a gentleman and a principled perfectionist, who works very hard to improve a player to make him better. “He has a lot of football knowledge and easily produces good football with the teams he coaches.”It was McKinstry who transformed Kagimu from an offensive midfielder/left winger into a deep-lying midfielder during his reign at the Cranes. “Everybody thought I was a lil’ bit crazy in Uganda because I said that, ‘I think this boy can play as a number six,’ but I think you can see today what I saw in him, that he can play one, two touch football,” McKinstry said.Against Bullets, Kagimu offers that it was all in a day’s work, “It’s just that we did what the coach told us to do as a team.”In his formative years, Kagimu featured in the Ligi Ndogo tournament in Nairobi, an experience he still recalls as he makes a return to the capital of Kenya.Globe-trotting Ayub Timbe returns to China”It gives me crazy flashbacks. I really enjoyed playing football at that age. But what I remember most during my stay at that tender age is that Nairobi was very cold during the morning hours, unlike now that it’s hot most of the time.”It was while playing in the tournament that he earned the alias Kuchi. “The fans loved my style and whenever I touched the ball and took on every opponent that crossed my way, they could chant “Kuchi” “Kuchi” but unfortunately, to this day, I have never gotten a chance to learn what Kuchi means,” Kagimu told Swift Sports in a past interview.With just 13 games to the end of the season, Kagimu is not setting big goals, apart from helping the team achieve its targets and self-growth.”I am looking forward to helping myself improve in areas I am weak at, and help the team to be able to win games one at ago because that’s the only way it can attain its set goals for the season. Gor Mahia fans deserve this because they are passionate about the club.”
