Gor Mahia look to widen gap on top of standings

Gor Mahia have the opportunity to move seven points clear on top of the Kenyan Premier League table when they play against Sony Sugar on Saturday in Awendo.

Their game in hand will be against a mid-table Sony side that suffered a massive 5-1 loss in the hands of AFC Leopards last weekend.

The defending champions are the premier league form team with seven wins and two draws in nine outings and with the return of Liberian defender Dirkir Glay, who has been out for two weeks with a shoulder injury, they have all their players available for selection.

Sony coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, on his part, will definitely rethink the position of former Thika United goalkeeper Lucas Indeche who stood in for Jairus Adira but who was very erratic in the team’s loss to Leopards.

By yesterday afternoon, Adira’s availability was still in doubt as he was racing against time to pass the fitness having been out for one month with an ankle injury.

However, Otieno said his team has put the humiliating loss behind them, and that they are determined to give a good account of themselves in today’s match.

“We had a very embarrassing outing last weekend but we have to pick ourselves up and the only way to do that is by posting good results in our next match. I know that our opponents are enjoying a rich form, but we will try our best to conjure a win,” Otieno said.

His opposite number, Frank Nuttall, whose team is yet to taste defeat this season, says he does not regard the records as much, but that he is focused on winning each match as it comes.

“We have had a good start to the league, and that is something that gives the entire team a lot of confidence. However, I tell the boys to avoid looking at the records and just focus on winning the next match. I believe that they will do just that,” Nuttall said.

The story of Gor’s financial difficulties is one that has been told enough times now, but it is worth noting that the players staged a boycott a day before the match and even threatened to dishonour the short trip to Awendo in protest of their delayed salaries.

But its also important to note that while K’Ogalo collected maximum points from Sony last season, the sugar millers lost only once at their Awendo grounds during that campaign.

These are statistics which make the fixture all the more interesting, although Sony have already lost once at home this season.

Meanwhile, Chemelil Sugar coach Mike Mururi has cited a blunt striking force for the team’s dismal run so far in the current season. “We are not attacking well enough to win matches. Most of the time we have been deflated because of the few goals we score,” Mururi said.