Kenya’s biggest football derby looms in fiercest rivalry

What you need to know:

  • Dutchman Koop in full charge of Leopards while Gor assistant Aono will stand in for absent ‘Zico’

The much anticipated Kenyan Premier League derby between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia is just hours away, slightly over 24 if you read your paper in the morning.

On Sunday at 3 pm at Nyayo National Stadium The newly named “Kenyan El Klasico” will be in full swing, providing little or no room for error for players on either side. This is the highlight fixture of the season that every football fan looks forward to.

Let’s face it, even though each Leopards player will get Sh23, 000 incase of a win (Sh10,000 from Mumias boss Evans Kidero, Sh10,000 match winning allowance and Sh3, 000 from supporters), glory will always be the biggest prize these two teams can get. For Leopards, revenge will be even sweeter.

With all due respect to their title ambitions, this one reaches up to the big egos both teams possess. It comes down to pride and bragging rights that only elite sport can bring.

And to give it the visibility it deserves, it will be the only league match of weekend and will be aired lived on SuperSport.

Leopards coach Jan Koops after a week’s training camp in Mumias simply said: “We are ready.”

Master tactician

In Zedekiah Otieno’s absence, assistant coach Anaba Aono on the other hand has to save face; going by the club’s recent wanting form.

In all honesty, it has been a terrible run for a team which at the end of the first leg, was in a bullish form, but can now hardly conjure up any win.

Their last victory was way back on July 24th, 3-1 against Leopards at the same venue!

However, Gor can still redeem themselves with another victory over Ingwe and revive their title hopes. It will be interesting to see how the coaches will approach this one, with minimal changes expected in the regular starting 11.

Koops has shown his hand as a master tactician and will have done his homework well on Gor Mahia. Leopards will be slightly adventurous up front, possibly exploring ways on getting the team to work as a unit and find ways to neutralize Leopards’ reject Demonde Selenga, Dan Makori and Wycliffe Ochomo, who made Leopards seem like an ordinary team in their previous encounter.

For either side to win, they must take control of the midfield, as predictable as Gor is, all weight will be put on Collins Okoth’s shoulders.

Bernard Mangoli will be assigned to keep an eye on him in the opposite side and depending on Okoth’s character, going flat will make the whole Gor team lose shape, if he maintains good form, then we’ll be treated for a good match-up.

Mangoli has shown flashes of brilliance of late but will have to do his bit on Okoth who’s got a supremely devastating passing ability against opponents.

“We have a strong team and if we are just to maintain our cool; then we are certain of the three points in that match,” said Leopards’ Charles Okwemba.

Perched seventh in the log with 33 points, three shy of Gor’s 37, Leopards may suffer the effects of complacency and looking at their recent fortune in the league-five runs without a loss, getting a result against their rivals may just make them switch to a lower gear.