Gor Mahia , Leopards clash in Mashemeji derby of generations in Dar

IN DAR ES SALAAM

For the first time in 32 years, the titanic clash pitting bitter foes Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will be staged outside Kenya.

The two giants face-off Sunday afternoon in the SportPesa Super Cup final at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam in what is expected to be a fiery contest.

With Sh3 million winners’ prize money, the usual bragging rights and a ticket to face English Premier League side Everton in July on the line, the clash has all the ingredients for an epic clash.

Gor Mahia won the previous two meetings between the rivals outside the country - in Sudan (1980) and Malawi (1985) in the Cecafa Cub Championship finals.

The fixture has caused mixed feelings among fans of Tanzanian giants Simba SC and Young Africans. The two teams fell to Nakuru AllStars and AFC Leopards at the quarter-final and semi-final stages respectively.

Yanga defender Andrew Vicente Chikupa is yet to come to terms with the fact that the Kenyan giants will be meeting at their home ground.

“It’s sad that foreign teams are playing a final in our homeland. We were unlucky against Leopards despite playing our hearts out. We would have wished to represent Tanzanians in the final. It’s even difficult to explain how our fans will turn up to watch a different derby,” the Taifa Stars centre-back told Nation Sport.

Yanga fans who spoke to Nation Sport have vowed to rally behind Gor Mahia after losing to Leopards.

Their reason? Former Simba striker Paul Kiongera plays for Leopards. However, Simba fans are ready to support Leopards, who don the red white stripped colours in away games.

“I will support Leopards. Gor don green jerseys just like Yanga do. There’s no big difference between a lion and a leopard because they are all part of the big five game. I am a Simba die hard, I can’t support a team that wears my rival’s colours,” Eliah Mjatta, Tanzania Artists’ Association chairman said.

Interestingly, Uhuru Stadium has designated places for both teams. Simba on the left side while their rivals Yanga sit on the right side of the main stand.

'NO HOME ADVANTAGE'

This will most likely be the norm on Sunday for Gor and Leopard fans who’ve been ferried in numbers to the city.

Gor assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno is not worried that the fixture is away from home. He has called on his charges to focus fully ahead of the derby.

“The atmosphere in Nairobi was different when we met in May. This is Dar es Salaam, no one has a home advantage. I think the tension will be on who wins the bragging rights on the day,” Otieno said.

His AFC Leopards counterpart Dorian Marin is much concerned about his team fitting into his style of play than the derby. A win, he says, will be a reward to his charges who’ve worked hard in the tournament.

“As I said before, Gor is the only team that has been playing good football in this tournament. I am not praising them, but you can only gauge your strength playing against the best,” the Romanian noted.