Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva expects his team to win their rescheduled Kenyan Premier League Round 3 match against Bandari FC at the Ukunda Showground on Wednesday.
The champions are prepared to recover from their slack-headed back-to-back performances, which saw them lose 2-1 to Nairobi City Stars and a two-all draw with Murang’a Seal.
K’Ogalo will be under pressure to appease their fans, who expect nothing but a victory.
Angry K’Ogalo supporters stormed the pitch at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, on Saturday, demanding explanations for the string of sub-par performances.
Neiva feels Bandari will be unable to cope with the calibre and intensity of his players.
“We are aware of the rivalry between Gor Mahia and Bandari. However, obtaining a favourable outcome and strengthening our title hopes are our main priorities,” Neiva said.
Neiva underlined the importance of maintaining an attacking rhythm while exercising defensive discipline to limit Bandari’s attacking threats.
“We have been training diligently and are committed to carrying out our game plan to the highest standard. Our focus is on securing all three points,” he said.
“We are determined to overcome any obstacle that Bandari may present, even though we are aware that they have the ability to cause an upset.”
The head-to-head statistics favour Gor Mahia. K’Ogalo have 16 wins, Bandari have seven while seven encounters have ended even.
Bandari head coach Ken Odhiambo promised K’Ogalo hell at the coast.
“We are prepared for a challenging game against our opponents. Our players have trained very hard and we are committed to giving it our all,” Odhiambo said.
High morale will be key in containing their opponents.
“Our players are highly motivated and this will help us overcome any obstacles we face on the field,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kenya Police face Sofapaka at Dandora Stadium. Elsewhere, AFC Leopards have threatened to take harsh measures against their supporters if they persist in hooliganism.
Angry fans stormed the pitch and sparked mayhem while calling for head coach Tomas Trucha to be fired following a 2-0 loss to Ulinzi Stars at Kinoru Stadium, Meru, on Sunday.
In a statement, chairman Dan Shikanda warned:
“We will not
put up with the same fans who
attacked Tom Juma and never
gave him a chance to settle down
trying to do the same to Trucha.
We will track them down and
prosecute them.”
