Who will blink first? Signal clear for Nairobi derby

The signal is clear for the much awaited ‘Mashemeji Derby’. Considered the biggest match in Kenya, it’s always full of tension.

Bitter rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia lock horns in a Kenyan Premier League match at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday with different expectations.

Champions and league leaders Gor seek to maintain unbeaten run while troubled Leopards seek to steady ship.

It’s such a big game that it never matters which team is much in form since the result comes with the resilience and the will to win that both the teams possess. In this clash, records will not matter; the past counts for nothing since each derby is a novel occasion to show supremacy.

Gor coach Frank Nuttall has poured cold water on the raging derby fires by calling it “just another game”. It is not and he knows it. He may be playing mind games with his rival Zdravko Logarusic of AFC Leopards but he knows too well that the Croatian will not buy into that.

K’Ogalo are keen on establishing supremacy over the 13-time champions in what could be the final derby of the season. K’Ogalo are still unbeaten after 22 matches and their admirable run is in serious jeopardy of being mutilated by the adversary; it shall be the greatest blow this season even if they go ahead and win the title.

NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE

This unbeaten record, which they have guarded jealously, almost came to an end in their midweek encounter against Nakuru All Stars where the opponents made several inroads into the K’Ogalo half of the pitch, and the fans have voiced abrasive criticism to coach Nuttall for that performance and the players.

After that game, Nuttall tersely told off the fans by saying that to expect to win every single match is to be disrespectful to the remaining 15 clubs, before saying that he “has not been thinking much about the derby”. Nuttall said: “The draw is a fair result considering the fact that we were playing a team that has not been together for long. I know the fans are always hungry for victory but you have to give credit to every team. Expecting to win in every match is truly disrespectful for the other teams.”

“Honestly I haven’t been thinking much about the derby. I have been busy thinking about this match and I think that (derby) is just one of the eight remaining matches that need to be won.”

Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic watched the same game at the Nyayo Stadium main stand with pen and paper, and he has publicly declared that he wants to ruin K’Ogalo’s impressive run.

The veteran of Kenyan derbies teased: “Gor is a good side with an impeccable record. You’ve got to give them that. But we are calm because we know we don’t have any chance to win this title. We only need to play football and I know that we can win this because nothing is impossible.”