Unstoppable Gor cruising to glory

Gor Mahia go into mid-season break next week buoyed by the strong prospects of retaining the Kenyan Premier League title for the third straight season after a dominant performance in the first leg.

On Monday night, on-song K’Ogalo restored their nine-point lead after dispatching Thika United 2-0 at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium.

Harun Shakava’s towering header and another neatly drilled free-kick by the now too familiar deadball specialist Ali ‘Teargas’ Abondo is all the champions needed to stroll to victory.

On Sunday, second-placed Sofapaka had cut the gap to six points after edging out Ulinzi Stars 2-1 at the Nairobi City Stadium, but Frank Nuttall’s men showed character against Tim Brytte’s Thika United to ensure that their now sweet rendition continues to reverberate loud amongst their vociferous fans.

“We dominated the match against a hard working team (Thika United). We created many chances as expected, though only two went in, but it was good to collect maximum points,” Nuttall told the club’s website after the victory.

Their latest repertoire ensured that Gor’s unbeaten record stretched to 14 matches and should they beat or draw with the unpredictable Tusker this weekend in Kisumu, they will head to the break without defeat.

INJURED PLAYERS

Sofapaka, meanwhile, though nine points adrift of the leaders are hopeful that they can keep on with the winning spirit and bridge the gap. Their soft spoken coach Sam Timbe chose to be positive after he watched his boys put their bodies on the line to disarm the soldiers.

“I’m happy with the win (against Ulinzi), it has put us on the track. God has given us what we wanted and we now have to keep fighting,” said the veteran tactician who guided Batoto Ba Mungu to their first Domestic crown in four years last term.

Sofapaka are now on 27 points, three ahead of Ulinzi Stars while Western Stima and Tusker follow in fourth and fifth places on 23 and 22 points respectively.

Meanwhile, AFC Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic, whose charges rallied from behind to settle for a 1-1 draw with Mathare, has blamed the absence of his key strikers for their average show.

Logarusic was without top scorer Jacob Keli, who has so scored eight goals, Nigerian striker Austin Ikenna as well as Michael Khamati and he feels their absence affected the team’s firepower.

“It was an entertaining match, but we missed key players. Many strikers are out with injuries, but a point was Ok,” he told Daily Nation Sport.