Kenya Premier League side Gor Mahia opened their Sportpesa Shield account with a 5-1 thrashing of SS Assad in Mombasa.
K’Ogalo raced in into a three-goal halftime lead after Innocent Wafula and Lawrence Juma, too, found the back of the net to effectively put the game beyond Assad’s reach.
Coach Dylan Kerr was satisfied with his boys ‘showing after Eliud Lukowam and Jacques Tusiyenge scored after the restart to add more gloss to the scoreline.
"It is the first time I have come to the coast and I have seen a lot of good players,” said Kerr.
Assad were unable to deal with Gor’s early pressing and attacking approach and were already behind as early as the third minute.
Habib Vumbi, coach of the coastal-based club, thought they would do better and give the 16-time champions a run for their money had the majority of the players not been fasting.
"We could have done better but the majority of my players are fasting,” he said.
The hosts’ halftime talk was perhaps an encouraged one as they came back stronger and got Gor on the back foot on several occasions.
They also got a consolation via a well-placed set piece from hitman Tumaini Mussa.
Assad players eventually showed signs of fatigue and tiredness towards the closing stages and could not prevent an in-form Gor, meaning they were eliminated at the stage while Gor booked their place in the round of 32 with a possible treble in the offing.