The quality of players that Mathare United put out is not to be rubbished. The difference between the two sides, really, was the evidence that Gor Mahia have had more time to train longer and their team seems to have gelled.

Recent friendlies that could have paid the dividends include against the South African under-20 team [Gor lost 0-2], with Sher Karuturi [drew 1-1] and against Nairobi City Stars – formerly World Hope FC – which Gor lost 1-2.

In contrast, a bulk of Mathare United players had hardly been together as a club since they won the Kenyan Premier League championship on November 22.

The Kenyan internationals in the United roster had just returned from Harambee Stars’ duty in Challenge Cup, concluded in Kampala on January 13.

On Saturday, coach Francis Kimanzi decided to give a run-out to men who had just joined the club like ex-Gor Mahia Andrew Oyombe, John Onami from Sony and two others who have rejoined United – Paul Abembo from Kenya Commercial Bank and Titus Mulama from a stint in Sweden.

Kimanzi also gave a chance mainly to those other players who did not have enough playing time last season such as Vincent Okello, Innocent Mutiso, Kevin Oliech and Buki Mohamed.

Clearly Gor Mahia were able to exploit the uncertainty in United’s tactical methods.

Hence coach Kimanzi might feel particularly jittery while making speedy efforts to integrate the men who he sent out on Saturday with those who remained on the bench before they fly out to Zambia for Saturday’s Champions League, first round, first leg tie with Zambian champions Zesco United in Ndola.

Scoring three-goals in a soccer match under any circumstances is a positive thing and Gor Mahia needed that because their return to continental football on Sunday will not be against minnows.

APR are a club which has grown in great stature in the Cecafa (Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations) region.

The Rwandese won the regional club championship in 2004 and 2007 while Gor Mahia’s last success dates back to 24 years ago!

The Rwandan side are an armed forces club and the nation’s President, Paul Kagame, takes a very special interest in it.

They are not short of resources and occasionally even recruit players from Kenya such as midfielder Maurice Odhiambo who is on their roster, Tusker goalkeeper Boniface Otieno who played there until 2007 and even coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee who had a stint as the man in charge of the Kigali club.

APR are also the mainstay of the Rwandan national team which, like Kenya are in the final phase of the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifiers.

It should worry Gor Mahia that APR have very experienced Rwandan internationals and youngsters that are taking part in the ongoing African under-20 championship in Rwanda.

Rwanda having missed out of the semi-final places decided on the weekend, APR young players who were in the national team will have enough time to ‘dust up’ and be on the trip to Nairobi this weekend.

Gor Mahia will conclude their preparation for the match with APR with a friendly tune-up with visiting Zimbabwe club, CAPS United in Nairobi, hopefully on Thursday.