Experienced Gor Mahia midfielder Ernest Wendo says the return of the CECAFA Kagame Cup, along with the invitation of esteemed clubs from across the continent, will help first-timers overcome stage fright ahead of the club’s return to the CAF Champions League.Gor Mahia is the sole Kenyan club invited to the regional inter-club tournament, which is making a comeback after a two-year hiatus.The tournament is scheduled to take place between July 6-22 in Tanzania and Zanzibar##NAJAVA_MECA_8154826##With Gor set to return to the Champions League after missing this year’s edition, Wendo says, the move by the organizers to invite, top clubs from outside the region will give junior players at the club a feel of what playing in continental football is like.K’Ogalo were to feature in the Champions League but were kicked out after failing to fulfill the club licensing requirements.WCQ: Kenya, Ivory Coast to face off in high-stakes game in LilongweFive-time African champions TP Mazembe, Zambian champions Red Arrors, and Malawian giants Nyasa Big Bullets are the invited sides.“This tournament will form part of our preparations for the Champions League. Some of our players have never played continental matches before and this tournament will help them prepare and know how to deal with stage fright,” he told Mozzart Sport.The defensive midfielder, who is the most senior player at Gor at the moment, believes that the team stands a chance to win the regional title despite most of the players at the club lacking continental experience.Wendo came close to lifting the title in his maiden season at Gor but they lost 2-0 to Azam in the 2015 edition’s final.Former Vihiga Bullets midfielder guides Vision to promotion in RwandaHe was also part of the team that failed to clinch the title in the 2018 and 2019 editions held in Tanzania and Rwanda respectively.“It is possible to win if we prepare well. We have a good squad full of young players who bring in the energy and are hungry for success,” added the former Bidco United midfielder.Teams for the CECAFA Kagame Cup: Vital ‘O (Burundi), APR FC (Rwanda), El Merreikh, Al Hilal, Hai El Wadi (Sudan), Young Africans SC, Simba SC, Azam FC, Coastal Union FC (Tanzania), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), SC Villa (Uganda), JKU SC (Zanzibar), El Merreikh FC-Bentiu (South Sudan), Nyasa Big Bullets FC (Malawi), TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Red Arrows FC (Zambia).
