The month of August is a tight one for Gor Mahia and the league leaders already kicked off the month on a positive note – winning their first match 3-0 over Kariobangi Sharks on Wednesday.
Next online is Nakumatt on Saturday in Machakos and head coach Dylan Kerr says that every match comes with pressure but the camp is in good shape and they will keep believing.
“Every game now comes with pressure but the camp is good and healthy. We just need to keep believing… keep our aspirations,” noted Kerr.
With matches coming thick and fast – most of them seem to be unpredictable, expectations are high from all quarters but the Briton says they are keeping their focus and taking one match at a time while targeting the best results.
“Expectations from everyone are high but my feet are firmly on the ground and we are taking one game at a time as we aim for the best,” he added.
This will be the second time Gor Mahia are facing Nakumatt this season. K’Ogalo won the first leg 4 – 0 at the same venue in February.
Saturday’s tie will be the fourth meeting between the two teams since Nakumatt were promoted to top tier league in 2017 and it’s worth noting that Gor Mahia pulled a double over the Shoppers in their debut year in top league.
It will be a duel of teams with contrasting interest – Gor Mahia aiming to stretch their lead at the top while Nakumatt fighting to move from the lower half of the league where disaster in the next few matches will mean a different story in their quest to stay alive in the league.
Looking at the form of the two teams, Gor Mahia have kept a clean record in the last five league matches – winning all of them and are calmly perched at the summit with 55 points after playing 21 matches. In the last five league matches, Gor Mahia have scored a massive 13 goals while conceding just one goal in all the five matches.
Nakumatt on the opposite end, have won only two matches, drawn twice and lost once in their last five league assignments. They are placed 12th on the log with 28 points after playing 24 matches.
Should Gor Mahia win the match, it will be a step towards achieving their goal of pulling a 17th league title – the highest in Kenyan football history.
The match will kick off at 3pm and Defender Karim Nizigiyimana has been named on the bench in the team.The right back player last featured for Gor Mahia in October 2017 where he picked an injury that kept him out of active football for nine months.
Several players have been rested with Tuesday’s game against Bandari in mind and for the first time in many matches, captain Haron Shakava will not be involved in today’s match.
Shaban Odhoji will be between the sticks as Guikan lead the attack.
Line up:
16. Shaban Odhoji, 4. Wellington Ochieng, 12. Joash Onyango, 21. Wesley Onguso, 11. Bonface Omondi, 6. Samuel Onyango, 24. Lawrence Juma, 26. Philemon Otieno, 19. Ephrem Guikan, 14. Kevin Omondi
Sub:
1. Peter Onyango, 23. Francis Mustafa, 10. Cercidy Okeyo, 17. Benard Ondiek, 28. Raphael Asudi, 32. Eliud Lokuwam, 3. Karim Nzigiyimana