When you go to Rome, you do what Romans do. That is one of the most famous quotes, at least to me. But it seems Gor Mahia fans do not understand this or they just chose to give it a different meaning when they thronged Tanzanian Capital Dar es salaam ahead of their team’s clash with local team Yanga on Sunday.
Clad in their iconic green regalia, the K’Ogalo army, famously known as ‘Sirkal’ took over the city in a way that only Gor Mahia understands.
Going into the match, there was a lot of talk about the noisy home fans and it was expected that they would intimidate the Kenyan giants. But that was not to be, as they were duly silenced by the green army.
For those of you who don’t understand Tanzanian football, let me tell you that there exists great rivalry between Yanga and Simba SC. This meant that Simba fans were solely behind Gor, and telling the Kenyan team to kill their bitter rivals.
Gor Mahia jersey is so recognizable on the streets of Dar, people keep yelling at us saying ‘Ua Yanga! Kill Yanga!’ The shouts of Simba fans. #CAFCC #Sirkal
— Tom Bwana (@TomBwana) July 29, 2018
Before the Tanzanian trip, word spread that Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has dished out Sh2 million to the fans to cater for their travel expenses.
The announcement of Kuria’s handsome donation to K’Ogalo fans was shared on social media by the club’s organizing secretary Judith Nyangi. Kuria joins Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Senator Johnson Sakaja as the politicians who have in recent times bankrolled the travel arrangements of Gor Mahia fans.
And it seems the money did a lot of good, as the fans sang their hearts out during the mouthwatering clash.
The team did not also disappoint on the pitch as it took only seconds for speedy winger George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo to to give Gor the leader with a classic header. The goal was CAF’s fastest goal in history.
Thank you Erokamano Asante Sana to ALL Kenyans who made the trip to Dar. Really proud of you we are the players and technical bench and also to ALL those watching at home pic.twitter.com/Fpncz0Nnpg
— Dylan Kerr (@legend3) July 29, 2018
The goal put Gor fans in the mood to enjoy a match away from home in which they dominated from start to finish. Kevin Omondi, Tuyisenge and Odhiambo wasted some clear cut chances in a one sided first half.
Rwandese import, Jacques Tuyisenge doubled the lead five minutes from the break with a volley. This was after Yanga Goalkeeper had handled the ball in his box instead of using his feet.
Inn the second half, Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch, who had not seen a lot of action in the first half decided that it was time for him to provide the media and fans some talking points. He decided to punch a shot into the path of Yanga star Deus Kaseke, who had an easy task putting it in the net.
Captain Harun Shakava restored the two goal cushion five minutes later after tapping in from close range. But it seems Oluoch was not happy with the scoreline and so he decided to remind us about Loris Karius, the Liverpool goalkeeper who gifted Real Madrid the Champions League Final with two school-boy mistakes.
This time Oluoch punched a tame free-kick into the path of Raphael Loth on the 81st minute, who didn’t hesitate to put the goal between, Oluoch’s open legs and make the scoreline 3-2. Unlike Liverpool, Gor hanged on for the precious win but it seems this is not the result Boniface Oluoch wanted.