Gor: Mapunda here to stay

Nairobi. Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have made it clear that they will not let their star custodian Ivo Mapunda leave the club in the January transfer window.

The Tanzanian international, currently on national duty with the Kilimanjaro Stars in the ongoing Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, has run down his contract which makes him as easy target of opposing teams.

However, Gor Mahia vice chairman David Kiilo insisted yesterday that they will keep him at “whatever cost.”

“Mapunda is a great player. It is largely due to him that Jerim (Onyango) has become a better goalkeeper”

“He gave Jerim a lot of competition and that is good for a team. We know of his quality and we need him because we are going to compete in five fronts,” stressed Kiilo.

Known for strong goalkeeping skills, Mapunda has already made a “come and get me plea” to any club interested in his services with Tanzanian giants Simba understood to be keenly monitoring the situation.

Should Simba make a successful move, Mapunda will reunite with his former coach at Gor Mahia, Zdravko Logarusic who is currently calling the shots at the Msimbazi outfit.

Gor Mahia have a hectic schedule in the new season where they begin their league campaign with the annual DSTV curtain raiser against bitter rivals AFC Leopards.

They will then shift focus on the Africa Championship League campaign.

Besides the continental assignment, Gor Mahia will also be fighting tooth and nail to defend their league title, reclaim the GOTv Cup and KPL Top Eight as well eye the Cecafa club championship.

The rigorous fixtures means that Gor Mahia must have depth in every position and Kiilo maintains that keeping Ivo remains a key priority.

Meanwhile, AFC Leopards have denied reports that they have signed Gor Mahia custodian Ivo Mapunda.

Club chief executive officer Richard Ekhalie said yesterday that no contact has been made with the Tanzanian goalie.

“No, we have not done any contact with Mapunda,” he said.

“We are not interested in his services as we have already cast our net on our potential signings.

In another development, the GOtv Shield champions AFC Leopards are set to officially confirm their new signings before the end of this week.

Acting CEO Richard Ekhalie said the club is in the final stages of completing the deals of their four targets.

“We are very close to officially signing our targets of Kasaya (Wycliffe), Shikokoti (Joseph), Situma (James) and Razak (Fiston),” he said.

“Possibly by the end of this week they will be in the den,” he added.