Gor Mahia right back Yusuf Mainge is a man on an ambitious if not a laborious mission this season.Mainge joined the record champions before the season began from AFC Leopards hit the ground running at K’ogalo in the best way possible for a defender as he managed three assists and helped the club let in two goals in eight matches. Besides assisting Gor reclaim the league title they surrendered to Tusker, the youthful defender says he wants to build on the positive start and write history by becoming the first player in recent times to hit more than twenty five assists. Last season, Bidco United right back David Kalama was voted as the second best defender after he managed seven assists, the most by a defender in the term. Gor who are yet to lose a league match this season are hoping to take him their 20th league title and return to the CAF Champions League as well as retain the domestic Cup they clinched last season.Back at it with a clean sheet and two assists. Proper effort from the entire team too.Gor biro. #Sirkal #Maingenuine (Image: @TransferMarktEA) https://t.co/UXSXdqJM8d pic.twitter.com/tHXV5YwDvx— Yusuf Mainge (@MaingeYusuf) December 9, 2021 “I am pleased with the way I have started life at Gor and the performance we have had as a team. I have a dream of setting the assists bar high this season. Before the campaign began, I settled on twenty five assists as my irreducible minimum and so far so good, ” he said.Asked on the inspiration behind his explosive performance, the former national U20 skipper was quick to pick the competition from the experienced Philemon Otieno who doubles up as the club’s assistant captain. Mainge has been facing off with the Kenyan international in the battle for playing time, a contest that he notes keeps him on toes.”When Gor signed me, they knew what value I would add to the team. From my end, I was aware that for the club to realize the value, I had to beat the competition for playing time first. The fight makes me better and I will continue to work hard so that I can earn more minutes, ” he said.Meanwhile, the former national U23 played is hoping to successfully knock open the door to the senior national team this time round.3 points, 2 goals and a clean sheet. Glad to have some of the fans back today. This is KOgalo. We move. See you again this weekend. #Maingenuine #Sirkal pic.twitter.com/w9oa2PdTdC— Yusuf Mainge (@MaingeYusuf) October 27, 2021 Mainge earned a handful of Harambee Stars call ups at a time when Sébastien Migne was the head coach but has had to contend with club football since 2019.
