No love lost as Gor and AFC players keep trading jerseys

Eric Masika of AFC Leopards wins the ball posession against Vitalis Akumu of Western Stima during their KPL match at Kasarani Stadium on Step 12, 2015. [PHOTO:OKEYO/STANDARD]

Though the transfer of top players from AFC Leopards to Gor Mahia and vice versa caused uproars among rivaling fans of yesteryears, this has not prevented players from switching between the two clubs.

The likes of legendary John ‘Zangi’ Okello, Paul Ochieng’, Deo Odhiambo, Dan Shikanda, Matthew Owino Ottomax, and Tom Juma are some of the players who were brave enough to cross the divide and play for both clubs in the 90s.

Congolese striker Demonde Selenga, Eric Masika, Wycliffe Kasaya, Peter Opiyo, Collins Okoth, Timonah Wanyonyi, and Clifton Miheso are a few of the players to have featured for both Gor and AFC in the Mashemeji derbies in the recent past.

And as the two oldest clubs in Kenya's football history clash in the 88th edition of the derby at Kasarani Stadium tomorrow, we take a look at some of the players in this generation who have donned both the green and blue jerseys.

DEMONDE SELENGA

The Congolese striker is the second player after Deo Odhiambo to have scored for both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in the derby.

He is fondly remembered by Ingwe fans for his vital goals in the 2010 season that helped them survive relegation with his lone goal sinking Gor Mahia in the Mashemeji derby.

Selenga then crossed over to K’Ogalo the following season and scored in their 3-1 victory over Leopards before rejoining Sofapaka the club he inspired to a silverware on their KPL debut in 2009.

ERIC MASIKA

Masika stormed into the limelight in 2010 after he played a key role in the Gor Mahia side that finished runners-up in the 2010 Kenyan Premier League season.

A year later, he controversially ditched Gor for AFC Leopards with the latter dishing out Sh450,000 in transfer fees, making him the most expensive player in KPL at that time.

But the defender failed to replicate his Gor form in the den as he left Leopards for Ushuru in January 2015 before he rejoined the club five months later.

However, his dip in form saw him being dropped the following year by the then Ingwe coach Ivan Minnaert.

WYCLIFFE KASAYA

Kasaya is a goalkeeper who was loved and loathed in equal measure by both by Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards fans.

Though talented, his on-field behaviour (antics) always left the two sets of fans divided, mostly during the derbies.

Kasaya, who featured in a number of derbies for both teams, left Gor at the close of the 2012 season and joined Sony Sugar before he signed for AFC Leopards in 2013.

CLIFTON MIHESO

Miheso is the latest player to switch between the two rivals and he is in line to make his second appearance in a green jersey tomorrow.

He has established himself as a key component of the K’Ogalo side since he joined them from Kenya Police in August last year.

The former Sofapaka winger was a tormentor-in-chief, scoring and providing an assist as Gor brushed aside AFC 4-1 in the reverse encounter last year.

Ironically, he was part of the AFC Leopards squad that last beat Gor Mahia 1-0 in a derby tie in 2016.

Though the transfer of top players from AFC Leopards to Gor Mahia and vice versa caused uproars among rivaling fans of yesteryears, this has not prevented players from switching between the two clubs.

The likes of legendary John ‘Zangi’ Okello, Paul Ochieng’, Deo Odhiambo, Dan Shikanda, Matthew Owino Ottomax, and Tom Juma are some of the players who were brave enough to cross the divide and play for both clubs in the 90s.

Congolese striker Demonde Selenga, Eric Masika, Wycliffe Kasaya, Peter Opiyo, Collins Okoth, Timonah Wanyonyi, and Clifton Miheso are a few of the players to have featured for both Gor and AFC in the Mashemeji derbies in the recent past.

And as the two oldest clubs in Kenya's football history clash in the 88th edition of the derby at Kasarani Stadium tomorrow, we take a look at some of the players in this generation who have donned both the green and blue jerseys.

Itubu Imbem and Demonde Selenga. [Standard Digital]

DEMONDE SELENGA

The Congolese striker is the second player after Deo Odhiambo to have scored for both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in the derby.

He is fondly remembered by Ingwe fans for his vital goals in the 2010 season that helped them survive relegation with his lone goal sinking Gor Mahia in the Mashemeji derby.

Selenga then crossed over to K’Ogalo the following season and scored in their 3-1 victory over Leopards before rejoining Sofapaka the club he inspired to a silverware on their KPL debut in 2009.

ERIC MASIKA

Masika stormed into the limelight in 2010 after he played a key role in the Gor Mahia side that finished runners-up in the 2010 Kenyan Premier League season.

A year later, he controversially ditched Gor for AFC Leopards with the latter dishing out Sh450,000 in transfer fees, making him the most expensive player in KPL at that time.

But the defender failed to replicate his Gor form in the den as he left Leopards for Ushuru in January 2015 before he rejoined the club five months later.

However, his dip in form saw him being dropped the following year by the then Ingwe coach Ivan Minnaert.

WYCLIFFE KASAYA

Kasaya is a goalkeeper who was loved and loathed in equal measure by both by Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards fans.

Though talented, his on-field behaviour (antics) always left the two sets of fans divided, mostly during the derbies.

Kasaya, who featured in a number of derbies for both teams, left Gor at the close of the 2012 season and joined Sony Sugar before he signed for AFC Leopards in 2013.

CLIFTON MIHESO

Miheso is the latest player to switch between the two rivals and he is in line to make his second appearance in a green jersey tomorrow.

He has established himself as a key component of the K’Ogalo side since he joined them from Kenya Police in August last year.

The former Sofapaka winger was a tormentor-in-chief, scoring and providing an assist as Gor brushed aside AFC 4-1 in the reverse encounter last year.

Ironically, he was part of the AFC Leopards squad that last beat Gor Mahia 1-0 in a derby tie in 2016.