The Kenya Premier League’s biggest and most glamorous fixture takes center stage in what will be the 85th edition of the ‘mashemeji derby’ pitting arch rival s AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia at the Kasarani Stadium.
Both teams come into the match on very different runs of form with Gor Mahia having won their last three matches including a very impressive 4-2 win over Zamalek in the CAF Confederations cup at the same venue. Leopards on the other hand have lost their lat three competitive matches, a run that includes a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Bandari and an embarrassing loss to relegation candidates Mount Kenya United.
It’s a game that no side can afford to lose, Gor Mahia need the three points to continue their resurgence on the log as they seek to catch with leaders Mathare United while AFC Leopards are clearly in desperate need of a positive result this weekend, especially when you consider that they just hired in a new coach(Who lost his first match).
The main problem at the Den has been the inability from the team to keep a clean sheet having kept just one in the last seven matches. AFC Leopards always score but their also let in too many at the back, hence their poor run of results. They come up against a very dangerous Gor Mahia attack that consists of Dennis Oliech, Jacques Tuyisenge and the League most inform player in Nicholas Kipkirui.
As the saying goes, ‘form in a derby match is irrelevant’ so AFC Leopards might look at this match and decide to use it as the stepping stone to relaunching their already fading season. They have the players and the class to cause and upset and dent K’Ogallo’s title defence, can they?