It’s another installment of the biggest match in Kenyan soccer calendar, with Gor Mahia visiting AFC Leopards for yet another testing encounter, this time in the form of the FKF Premier League which will be played at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Wednesday.
The game will be the 93th meeting between the two sides, with the statistics showing that AFC Leopards have won 28 times with Gor Mahia winning 32 times with the 32 remaining games ending in draws.
Leopards are sitting fifth in the league standings with four points after two matches, while their perennial rivals Gor are seventh with three points, with one game at hand.
The last time these two sides met; the thrill-a-minute affair saw the match go all the way to penalties to determine the winner. K’Ogalo showed grit and determination to win the Betway Cup that earned the side a ticket to CAF Confederation Cup.
Leopards coach Patrick Aussems will go into this derby missing a number of key players who turned for the team last season due to financial difficulties that the team is facing.
One of the players is midfielder Austin Odhiambo who recently joined Gor Mahia on two-year contract but the Belgian is unworried of his current charges.
“Even though we lack experienced players compared to last season, the ones available have shown they can do the job and that is why we are yet to lose in the league. I expect a good game and a positive result,” Aussems told reporters ahead of the derby.
Ingwe, as Leopards are fondly known, go into this fixture carrying the underdog billing however they will fancy their chances of getting a positive outcome, having showed a great potential in recent matches.
Plus the form book, , with the usual bragging rights and a chance to either climb up the table at stake for Leopards, the clash has all the ingredients of an epic showdown.
Gor Mahia coach Mark Harrison will want to bag his third win as in-charge of the team after securing a 3-1 win over Al Ahly Marowe of Sudan in African Confederation Cup, but his side is likely to come against a more formidable Leopards outfit.
“Derbies are not easy and not predictable neither do form of any team matters. We shall play our game of course with intention to win and bag maximum points. We have all players available except Sydney Ochieng’ who is injured. About Odhiambo playing, I must confirm first the details with the office,” coach Harrison told Nation.
AFC Leopards’ recent record against Gor Mahia has not been the best; the last time they won a game against them was way back in March 2016 when Lamine Diallo scored a late goal at Kasarani.
In the last 26 meetings, Gor Mahia have won 19 times, four of those being draws while Leopards have just four wins.
So far, players from both sides have refused to grant interviews, stressing that they have been given strict instructions not to speak to the media unless the press got permission from the teams’ respective offices.
