Leopards ready to ‘pounce on’ K’Ogalo

By TONY ANELKA

It is a big weekend for Kenyan football with Gor Mahia  and AFC Leopards squaring off  at Kasarani in what is the biggest derby in Kenya. The most passionate cross-town showdown with the true taste of a football derby is probably found in the two teams with a vibrant fan base in Kenya.

The fans for both teams always light up the day’s event by their unique supporting style, the renditions that normally fill the air, the dances and general drama is what spice up the city derby which do pull a large crowd of more than 20,000 fans to the stadia.

 Some fans may think the recent form of Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards will judge the derby involving the two archrivals. Football derbies are not decided on form because all players do play their hearts out with one aim – to win the match. The form and position of the two teams are usually irrelevant with no side considered the favourite to win the match.

A week after AFC Leopards dropped two points against a middle table team (City Stars) at Nyayo Stadium, their archrivals Gor who are at the summit of the table with 40 points after strolling past Muhoroni Youth with a 3-0  win last weekend,  are standing tall on their way as they look to keep their title hopes alive or close the gap on the league. 

AFC Leopards are placed fifth on the log with 31 points from 20 matches, which according to football pundits and fans, is a good position considering the number of matches remaining.

 It is a battle of white coaches in Kenya as the two sides are the only KPL teams being coached by foreign coaches.  Gor coach Bob Williamson will be facing Leopards for the first time as opposed to the Leopards’ coach Luc Eymael. “We have no pressure. It’s  a match like any other though the hype and expectations are high like other derby in the world,” said Williamson.

Two football brains will be on show as the two gentlemen will exhibit their might in coaching and how they can build their empires.

Leopards’ coach Luc who have been away for quite some time is set to stick with the team that drew with City Stars last weekend when he was away. In his own words, Leopards’ coach Luc said he will be fighting to win the match. “It will be just like any other match and we will be fighting to win the match and get three points,” he said.