As old rivalry tally hits 71, who will win it on Sunday?

The 71st derby between two of the most successful Kenyan clubs – Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards – kicks off at Nyayo National Stadium at 3pm on Sunday.

It is a rivalry that dates back to March 5, 1968 when William “Chege” Ouma scored a brace as K’Ogalo beat AFC Leopards 2-1 with Henry Misango netting for Ingwe.

Great players have graced the derbies that have followed, among them the current Minister for Public Works, Chris Obure, who scored for Gor Mahia in the second derby on January 26, 1969 where they played to a 1-1 draw.

There is also Maurice Ochieng “Sonyi”, scorer of three goals for Gor Mahia in three derbies between 1976 and 1979 who went on to coach the team to lifting the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1987.

So intense has been the rivalry that, sometimes when Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are meeting, no other fixture is planned at the capital that day.

Nothing much has changed since, and when the two sides clash on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium there will be a thin line between them.

Fans of both sides will be dancing in the terraces but they will be holding their hearts until the final whistle.

Of the 70 clashes so far, AFC Leopards have won 25 times while K’Ogalo have been victorious 19 times. They have drawn in 26 games.

Ingwe have scored 62 goals as Gor shook the net 55 times.

That is just history, however, and it counts for nothing when the referee sounds the whistle to set the stage for the 71st derby this afternoon.

Forget Gor Mahia’s faltering form, forget the free scoring AFC Leopards …. the derby this afternoon will be closely fought, it will be a game of emotions, tact, speed, agility and resilience.

Psychologically, Gor Mahia are down. The players are crestfallen, having not won nor scored in their past five matches in all competitions.

Their third defeat of the season – 2-0 to champions Tusker FC on Wednesday – had the players in tears and coach John Otieno “Bobby” Ogolla has had less than 50 hours to lift their spirits.

“We are at our most vulnerable position going into this big game,” said the Gor Mahia legend. “You have seen what the players have gone through in the past five games.

Exchanged victories and trophies

“But then again, derbies between Mahia and AFC Leopards are a different ball game altogether.”

Ogolla is himself a veteran of the derbies, having won the green jersey for 10 years – between 1977 and 1987 – when the two clubs exchanged victories and trophies.

Sunday’s game finds K’Ogalo in what can be termed a crisis by the club’s standards. They recently had to sack the entire technical bench for poor results and in-fighting.

Even after they brought in Ogolla, results are still not coming and the K’Ogalo nation goes into this game crossing their fingers, hoping it will not be another humiliating day.

On the contrary, Leopards are on a roll.

Ingwe, under Dutchman Jan “Wepukhulu” Koops, have been on top form with Allan Wanga the main assassin, assisted upfront by Victor Ochieng who, interestingly, is the son of Gor Mahia great Sonyi.

Gor supporters – popularly known as the ‘Green Army’ – would have loved to see Ochieng in the green jersey against Ingwe. Unfortunately for them, Leopards were quick to snap him up from Chemelil where he scored 11 goals last season.

In the defence, Leopards have the player most Gor fans would love to hate. The ‘Green Army’ is still smarting from the ‘betrayal’ by Eric Masika, who built his talent at Gor but demanded a transfer last December.

He has since formed a strong partnership with Jonas Nahimana, Martin Imbalabala and Abbas Kiwaalabye at the heart of the Leopards defence, giving great cover to goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, who has only conceded one goal this season.

Ingwe being at the top of the table, they believe this is the season they will win their 13th Kenyan Premier League title. But it is too early for them to celebrate: even a victory in Sunday’s derby will only give them bragging rights but not the title.

Leopards must however be wary of a wounded K’Ogalo.

Gor has some of the best players but Lady Luck seems not to have decided to smile down on them yet.