Following their win over Bandari on Tuesday afternoon, Gor Mahia now sit pretty at the top of the Kenya Premier League table with 49 points. All this despite playing 3 matches less than second-placed Sofapaka. Unless Hassan Oktay’s men endure a very unlikely loss of form and momentum, K’Ogallo will be winning their 6th league title of the last 7 seasons!
Over across the oceans and in Spain to be specific, Catalan giants Barcelona beat Alaves on the same day as Gor beat Bandari to ensure that they are one win away from securing their 9th Spanish La Liga title in the last 14 seasons! The similarities from both teams, despite being miles apart Geographically are clear for everyone to see.
For starters, both teams play the best brand of football in their respective countries scoring goals for fun. Barcelona has scored 85 league goals this season which is the highest in Spain while Gor Mahia is tied with Sofapaka on most goals scored with 38 each, remember that Gor has 3 games in hand.
On the continental front, Gor Mahia and Barcelona are the best bets from their respective countries for earning continental accolades. Gor Mahia may have lost in the quarterfinals in the CAF Confederations Cup, but it is still the furthest a Kenyan team has gone in continental football. Barcelona are in the semis of the Champions League, the only Spanish team still left in the competition.
Barcelona almost always beat their arch-rivals Real Madrid and have beaten them 5 out of 6 times they have met this season While Gor Mahia has lately rendered the Mashemeji derby a non-isssue. AFC Leopards are not at their level and are easily dismissed whenever the two meet, this season a below-par performance from Gor saw them win 2-0.
Though World’s apart, Gor Mahia and Barcelona are the perfect blue prints in how a football club should be ran. Gor Mahia are Kenya’s very own version of Barcelona!