Gor Mahia want to take a hike up Mount Kenya

Gor Mahia FC's Dennis Oliech playing against Posta Rangers FC during their KPL match at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday Jan 9, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After a false start, SportPesa champions Gor Mahia have been on an upward trend and will be keen to extend it when they face Mount Kenya United at Kasarani Stadium today.

Gor Mahia are sixth on the log after edging out Posta Rangers last week. On Sunday, they narrowly squeezed a 2-1 win over Cameroonian side New Stars in a Confederations Cup match.

The Kenyan champions will be at full strength going into this match as Haroun Shakava and Joash Onyango return to the starting line-up after missing out on Sunday due to a suspension slapped on them.

Former Kenyan captain Dennis Oliech is also returning as he was not eligible to take part in the continental match as he had not been registered.

Lawrence Juma is also likely to make another start after an impressive performance last weekend during which he scored Gor Mahia’s first goal.

With league and continental matches every other week, Gor Mahia have had a busy season and it does not look like it will get better any time soon.

Coach Oktay admitted that the pile-up is getting to his players and he has to work harder to get better results.

“It is not easy playing every other day. Fatigue and injuries are cropping in but we have to keep working,” he said.

Gor Mahia will be without Humphrey Mieno, however, after he signed a two-year contract with Ethiopian side St.George’s.

Mieno has been unsettled since the year began and was given permission to speak to the Ethiopian club. He joins Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi at the club.

There will be three other matches tomorrow.

Troubled AFC Leopards travel to Moi Stadium to face Chemelil  Sugar tomorrow, keen to turn around a poor form.

Leopards have won just one match since the season began and were shocked last weekend by KCB after they lost 1-0.

Meanwhile, Western Stima head coach Paul Ogai has praised his charges despite losing their first SportPesa Premier League game this season.

Stima lost 2-1 to Kariobangi Sharks at the weekend.

The power men had raked in a massive 14 points after four wins and two draws and the loss saw Bandari surpass them to second spot with 15 points.

“We fought against Sharks even after going down 2-0. This will be more of a lesson to the boys that we are not there yet and we need to work harder,” he said.

Sony lost their first match to Ulinzi Stars.