He may have scored a paltry five goals during his brief stint with Gor Mahia at the sunset of his glittering career, but K’Ogalo faithful will always remember Dennis Oliech for his heroics on the afternoon of Sunday, 3 February 2019.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsIn a classic David versus Goliath clash, Oliech came off the bench to score Gor Mahia’s fourth goal, as the Kenyan champions rallied from behind to thrash Egyptian giants, Zamalek, 4-2 at Kasarani Stadium.The run, which saw him round the goalkeeper before calmly finishing, followed by his iconic celebration in honour of his late brother, Steve Okumu, is perhaps what makes the goal so memorable among Gor Mahia fans.##NAJAVA_MECA_9942125##It was Oliech’s first and only goal for the club in CAF competitions, but its significance far outweighs his overall goal contributions at the storied club. With Gor Mahia gearing up for another clash against an Egyptian giant, Mozzart Sport reached out to the former Harambee Stars captain for his insights on the tie and how best the Green Army can capitalise on home advantage to secure a crucial win.Gor Mahia are set to host Pyramids FC on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. CAF CC: Why Tusker captain is confident of win over Sudanese outfitAhead of the contest, Oliech believes that the record Kenyan champions have what it takes to upset the visitors despite their lack of match fitness and all odds leaning in favour of the 2025 African champions.Gor Mahia head into the match without the benefit of regular competitive action, following the prolonged delay in the start of the 2026-2027 FKF Premier League season.Despite that, Oliech has urged Gor Mahia’s players to make every chance count, calling on them to score at least three unanswered goals in Nairobi.##NAJAVA_MECA_9936802##He believes Pyramids are likely to adopt an overly cautious approach, leaving K’Ogalo with opportunities to exploit and ensure they carry a big advantage to the return match in Cairo.“Gor Mahia must make every chance count because opportunities against a team like Pyramids may be limited. They should target at least three unanswered goals while remaining disciplined defensively. Allowing Pyramids to score a goal in Nairobi will dent their chances of making it to the next round. Government issues update on construction of new stadium in Nandi [PHOTOS]Pyramids will most likely come looking for a favourable result, perhaps even a draw, so Gor must be clinical in attack, stay compact at the back and avoid conceding a cheap goal at home," remarked the former Mathare United man. While the former FC Nantes marksman remains confident Gor Mahia can secure victory, it is not lost on him the damage Pyramids can inflict on the home side if K’Ogalo fail to manage three key phases of the game effectively.Oliech observed that visiting North African sides have demonstrated tendencies to go for a goal within the opening 15 minutes or punish lapses in concentration towards the end of the first half.STARS ABROAD: Shumah makes PSL debut as Anyembe endures defeat in DenmarkHe further cautioned that mistakes in the final quarter of the match are rarely left unpunished by teams from the North, urging Gor Mahia to remain focused and disciplined until the final whistle. “Pyramids can hurt Gor Mahia if they lose concentration at key moments. North African teams know how to punish mistakes, whether early in the game, just before halftime or in the final 15 minutes. Gor must stay focused, disciplined and composed throughout the match," added Oliech. The last time Gor Mahia played against an Egyptian opponent in CAF matches, they lost 6-0 on aggregate to record African champions Al Ahly.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Have Kenya Police signed the final piece of a star-studded puzzle?Gor lost the first leg 3-0 in Nairobi before suffering a similar defeat in the return match. The two encounters were played in September 2024.
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