Gor, AFC bracing for a big duel in Mashemeji Derby on Sunday
The "in-laws" will not only be fighting for points in the rescheduled round 9 fixture but also bragging rights
The 96th edition of the popular Mashemeji Derby is finally here after two postponements and a series of uncertainties.
Bigwigs Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards SC, who between them boast of 33 league titles, lock horns on Sunday evening at the reopened Nyayo Stadium in what promises to be full of fireworks on the pitch and entertainment on the stands.
The “in-laws” will not only be fighting for points in the rescheduled round 9 fixture but also bragging rights as Nairobi readies itself for a clash of blue versus green.
Gor Mahia is currently third on the log on 42 points but with a match in hand following back to back wins. The form of K’Ogalo, which has won the title 21 times, is inspiring to the team’s Croatian tactician Sinisa Mihic who has had the luxury of having a full squad after the two-week international break. The touchline maverick is promising a good game by his charges vowing to go for a win in this important fixture and incidentally in his first derby in charge of the club.
“We are ready and everything is good. We have trained well and now have the opportunity to go hunting for three points in this big game. We will have to approach this game professionally and seriously enough because for us a win is a must,” opined a confident Mihic who has overseen six matches since arriving into the country.
AFC Leopards under Fred Ambani is currently fifth in the standings with 36 points in the bag. However, the big cats have been a little blunt drawing four matches in five games. A win would be important against their traditional rivals with the coach warning K’Ogalo that he does not fear them. Ingwe, which will have an Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow, have so far picked 36 points in 23 matches with nine wins to boot in the 2024.25 FKF-Premier League campaign.
“Personally, I am not scared of the derby. I have played it before as a player, and I know the importance and the demands, I cannot say that I am scared of it. My players are equally ready,” said Ambani.
In the last the meetings between the two giants clubs of Kenya, Gor Mahia has won thrice, drawn twice and lost once. The last loss came against Coach Jonathan McKinstry last season in the first leg of the Derby which ended 2-1 in favor of AFC Leopards whose goals came via Maxwell Otieno and Victor Omune.
Ahead of this game, the Local Organising Committee of CHAN (Africa Nations Championships) Nicholas Musonye warned both sets of fans that any vandalism occasioned on the stadium infrastructure will lead to a ban.
Nyayo Stadium and Moi Stadium Kasarani have been undergoing renovation ahead of CHAN in August and immediately after the Mashemeji Derby will be shut for the next three months to complete refurbishment.
