Gor, Leopards clash a matter of honour by any other name
PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards fans mingle in Nairobi before the two giant clubs met in their KPL first leg tie at Nyayo Stadium on June 8, 2014.
What you need to know:
- Contrast of styles as Williamson, De Jongh meet for second time
- Gor Mahia’s Bobby Williamson is a level-headed, calm tactician who goes by what he reads and not what the pundits and supporters say. He is after all a multi-Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup champion and a KPL winner with K’Ogalo.
- Victory over Ingwe will massively boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming Cecafa Kagame Cup that kicks off in Kigali, Rwanda on August 8, not to mention their state of mind.
The outcome of Sunday’s Mashemeji derby between Kenyan football powerhouses Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium will boil down to the tactical acumen of the opposing coaches.
Gor Mahia’s Bobby Williamson is a level-headed, calm tactician who goes by what he reads and not what the pundits and supporters say. He is after all a multi-Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup champion and a KPL winner with K’Ogalo.
His team currently sits at the top of the league table with 37 points and he will surely have crafted a game plan for the old enemy Leopards.
The expressive, showboating Leopards coach Pieter de Jongh, may have engineered his sides 3-1 mauling of Gor in their first leg tie, but has seemingly lost the plot with several poor results that have made the demanding Leopards’ fans impatient and belligerent.
He has changed his skipper twice, from Martin Imbalambala to James Situma then back to the defensive midfielder, and you should expect some surprise in his formation on Sunday.
The two teams’ last meeting was a tempestuous showdown on June 8 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
On that occasion, Gor Mahia got off the blocks at a blistering pace thanks to a sweetly struck half volley by Timonah Wanyonyi in the opening exchanges of the match.
However, a determined Leopards clawed their way to claim the coveted bragging rights that come with the big victory.
In that intriguing duel, it was the ageless Charles Okwemba - who will be celebrating his 35th birthday by year end - who made Leopards tick scoring one and setting the other two.
(READ: Hungry Leopards claw Gor Mahia)
That famous win was also De Jongh’s first league match in charge at the den and it turned out to be a perfect start for him. But he has struggled since winning just once in five outings.
The win – 2-0 against City Stars - came mid-week and to some extent, lifted the team’s morale. But Ingwe will have to summon all the courage, class, and tactical discipline that they can muster to do a league double over the old enemy.
Gor Mahia, on the other hand, head into the contest with their egos pricked following an ignominious ouster from the GOtv Shield tournament by lowly GFE 105.
KAGAME CUP
Victory over Ingwe will massively boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming Cecafa Kagame Cup that kicks off in Kigali, Rwanda on August 8, not to mention their state of mind.
Winning is everything in this encounter and has been since the dawn of independence five decades ago.
“Expectations are high. I think we can win the game and we have to try our best to win it. Key players like Danny (Sserunkuma), David (Owino) and Walusimbi (Godfrey) are all back and it gives us a lot of options. “We have to stay calm for the 90 minutes and be focused,” Williamson said on Saturday. He has a full squad to choose from.
“It’s a derby and therefore a special game for the team and the fans. Our motivation is to do well and of course get the three points. Everybody in this team is happy when we beat Gor and we have to keep our eyes on the prize,” De Jongh said.
