The stage is set for the Mashemeji derby, Kenya’s most anticipated football spectacle, which will take place on November 24.
Two long-standing rivals, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, will face off for the 93rd time in the vicious 56-year-old showpiece after the two week Fifa international break.
Since their first meeting on May 5, 1968, the two clubs have been fierce rivals in the high-stakes battle for crucial league points and bragging rights.
Even though both clubs have a sizeable following from other communities, Gor’s fan base is predominantly Luo while the AFC Leopards’ is primarily Luhya.
K’Ogalo enter the vicious encounter oozing confidence, having a better head-to-head record after claiming their opponents’ scalps 31 times.
In contrast, the Leopards have 27 victories.
The sides split the spoils in the remaining 34 fixtures.
But that is beside the point. Leopards have only beaten Gor Mahia once since 2016.
Gor Mahia have won 11 of the 18 games the sides have played since then, with six fixtures ending in draws.
In their last five meetings with Gor, the Leopards have lost three games and shared the spoils twice.
However, AFC Leopards assistant coach Fred Ambani has pledged to change the tide in their favour.
Ambani, who turned out for Ingwe during his heydays in the ‘90s,mance against Gor Mahia,” he said.
Leopards survived a scare to wring out a hard-fought one-all draw against KPL debutants Mara Sugar in their last league outing over the weekend at Dandora Stadium in Nairobi.
The tactician said they are reserving their energies for their bitter rivals.
“We need to fix a few things during the international break. I promise that we will be a completely different team in the derby,” he said.
“We have lost to Gor so many times recently, and we can’t allow the trend to persist. They won’t run over us anymore. We have keenly observed their games and we are keen on teaching them some lessons,” he said.
Club skipper Clifton Miheso understands how difficult it will be to instil confidence in their listless fans, who are dissatisfied with the team’s poor performance.
With four straight games without a victory, Ingwe have had a difficult time on the topflight stage.
A lacklustre run of two draws and two losses have left the ardent Ingwe fans groping for answer sexuded confidence ahead of the much-anticipated battle of the Titans.
“It will not be business as usual. On November 24, we will be out to turn around our appalling performance against Gor Mahia,” he said.
Leopards survived a scare to wring out a hard-fought one-all draw against KPL debutants Mara Sugar in their last league outing over the weekend at Dandora Stadium in Nairobi.
The tactician said they are reserving their energies for their bitter rivals.
“We need to fix a few things during the international break. I promise that we will be a completely different team in the derby,” he said.
“We have lost to Gor so many times recently, and we can’t allow the trend to persist. They won’t run over us anymore. We have keenly observed their games and we are keen on teaching them some lessons,” he said.
Club skipper Clifton Miheso understands how difficult it will be to instil confidence in their listless fans, who are dissatisfied with the team’s poor performance.
With four straight games without a victory, Ingwe have had a difficult time on the topflight stage.
A lacklustre run of two draws and
two losses have left the ardent Ingwe
fans groping for answers.
