Yesterday, Kenya exited the COSAFA Cup in South Africa after failing to secure a semifinal berth.Their exit may be a blow to millions of Kenyans but a blessing to Gor Mahia faithful.Harambee Stars were banking on a Namibia or Angola loss or a draw to Seychelles and Lesotho respectively to progress to the last four. However, when the two teams picked identical 3-1 triumphs and Kenya was sent packing.##NAJAVA_MECA_8191715##As Kenyans rue the team’s elimination, in Gor Mahia’s camp, it is a blessing in disguise as the club’s CECAFA Kagame Cup chances have been handed a major boost.They will have six of their players, all key, back in the squad ahead of the tournament that kicks off on Tuesday, July 9, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.The matches will be staged at the Azam Complex in Chamazi and KMC Stadium in Kinondoni.Gor produced the largest number of Kenya players in South Africa. The six are Rooney Onyango, Dolph Owino, Paul Ochuoga, Sylvester Owino, Austin Odhiambo, and Benson Omala. Onyango, Sylvester, Odhiambo, and Omala started in all three group games. Austin scored two goals for Kenya while Omala found the back of the net once.All set for FKF Women’s Cup final at the Police Sacco GroundsGoing to Tanzania without arguably their best player Odhiambo, the best right-back in the league Onyango, and the league’s top scorer Omala would have dealt their chances of bagging the regional title a massive blow, but their return is now a big boost for the team.The reigning Kenyan champions were handed what can be considered the pool of death when the draw was conducted on Wednesday in Tanzania. They are in Group B alongside Al Hilal (Sudan), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), and Djibouti Telkom FC (Djibouti).The tournament will be coach Leonardo Neiva’s first as Gor Mahia boss, and he will be hoping to hit the ground running ahead of the club’s return to the CAF Champions League.CECAFA Kagame Cup Groups:Group A: Coastal Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telkom FC (Djibouti)Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania), El Merreikh Bentiu (South Sudan)Harambee Stars bow out of the COSAFA Cup
