By JAMES WAINDI

A local derby that promised much delivered precious little as arch rivals Gor and AFC Leopards played out a goalless draw at the Nyayo National Stadium in a match that had to be stopped for close to 25 minutes due to crowd trouble.

Gor also ended the match with 10 men after the sending off of second half substitute Victor Ali for a dangerous tackle on Amon Muchiri.

Fans take cover after crowd trouble forced the KPL tie between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards to be stopped for a number of minutes. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Everything was going on well until the 67th minute when referee David Omweno sent off Ali after a dangerous tackle on Muchiri. Omweno and his two assistants Peter Kereini and Gilbert Cheruiyot, were held hostage on the field before they were escorted out of the pitch through gate six by armed police.

It took the Gor players’ convincing techniques to quell their fans anger and allow the match to go on as they blamed the officials for biased officiating and looked determined to stop the proceedings.

Violence spilled outside the stadium after the match with fans of both teams engaging each other in running battles with stones and a number of casualties were reported.

FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya termed the incident as unfortunate and said future derbies between the two sides would be handled by foreign referees.

At least for Gor coach Bobby Ogolla’s men there was no injury-time heartache, having suffered five defeats in a row coming into the match.

For Leopards, who had numerical advantage their winning run in the league was checked, but their coach Jan Koops still remains unbeaten in the league competition.

Gor coach made four changes on the team that lost 2-0 to champions Tusker in midweek, bringing in Chris Wekesa in place of Collins Omondi, Anthony Akumu in place of Collins Okoth, Kevin Omondi and Rama Salim instead of Victor Ali and Baldwin Ngwa.

Leopards coach Jan Koops on the other hand just made a single change from the team that came from behind to pip Muhoroni Sugar 2-1 in their last league match a week ago, giving international striker Victor Ochieng his first start since he joined the team.

Gor enjoyed early possesion and were generally better in midfield but lacked ideas in the opponent’s box.

Rama Salim tested Leopards custodian Patrick Matasi with a thunderous free kick from 30 yards just after two minutes and three minutes later it was Leopard’s turn as Ochieng found his striking partner Allan Wanga but Wycliffe Kasaya’s timely intervention thwarted the international striker.

Ogolla had to replace Salim in the 34th minute as the diminutive midfielder seemed to be struggling after he clashed with Edwin Baraza in the 16th minute.

Jimmy Bagaye had Leopard’s best chance of the half in the 43rd minute when he remained in a one-on-one situation with Kasaya, but he shot straight to the hands of the custodian as the sides went to half time tied 0-0.

Ogolla brought in Ali and Moses Odhiambo in the second half in place of Ibrahim Kitawi, and George Midenyo, but could still not breach the tight Leopards defence.