Gor, AFC captains ready for the Mashemeji derby

Gor Mahia striker Tito Okello celebrates after scoring against Western Stima. [Washington Onyango, Standard]

Kenya’s fiercest football rivalry between record league champions Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will be witnessed in an empty Kasarani Stadium tomorrow due to the concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

Both teams are coming off impressive wins and are only separated by three points. Fourth-placed AFC Leopards registered a 2-1 victory over Posta Rangers to take their points tally to 18, while sixth-ranked Gor Mahia trounced Bandari 3-1.

Though K’Ogalo have so far lost three matches, one more than Ingwe this season, history favours them if their recent derby performance is anything to go by. AFC Leopards last beat Gor Mahia 1-0 in June 2016.

While AFC Leopards will be seeking to end a five-year winless derby drought, Gor Mahia will be out to reassert their authority in the league as they aim to narrow the gap on the leading pack.

And even as AFC Leopards captain Robinson Kamura downplayed the significance of tomorrow’s match by terming it as a ‘party’ for the fans, he knows how important it is in their bid to win the title they last won 22 years ago.

“As you all know, a derby is always a party for the fans, but for us players we take it just like any other league match.

“We are going to fight hard for the maximum points as usual but this will be historical because I have never played a derby without fans. So, we will try and win it for our fans,” Kamura said.

AFC Leopards Captain Robinson Kamura in past action. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Although Gor Mahia captain Kenneth Muguna is wary of the threat posed by wounded Leopards, he believes the fixture will help them achieve their objective of moving up the table.

“Of course it is another match for us to fight for three points and go top of the table. We want to reclaim our deserved position as soon as possible because at Gor Mahia, we are used to the number one position,” said Muguna.

“Winning the derby is big for the fans and everybody around the club, but one match cannot determine if we are going to defend the title. But it is a match with a special meaning because of the history behind it and the hype that comes with it.”

He added: “Though it will be a weird derby because as a player we enjoy such matches more when the fans are around, we are determined to extend our dominance over AFC Leopards. But we know it will not be easy because they are wounded and have been feeling the pain for the last four years.

Gor Mahia FC captain Kenneth Muguna celebrates scoring against Western Stima FC during their Kenyan Premier League match at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on February 29, 2020. [Photo: Stafford Ondego]

“They will be coming for revenge but we are calm and we know what it takes to win these kinds of matches.”

“Both teams will definitely miss their fans but there is nothing we can do because this is the new normal. The atmosphere in the pitch will remain the same but it will be quiet in the stands.

“But in matches like this, the motivation is always there whether the fans are present or not. It will be weird because players enjoy such matches more when  fans are around.”

The other match tomorrow will see struggling Zoo Kericho welcome Bidco to Green Stadium with the hope of registering a win.