After 4 months without tasting defeat in the Kenya Premier League, Gor Mahia’s amazing run was finally brought to an end by Nzoai Sugar on Wednesday afternoon. Hassan Oktay, perhaps with one eye on Sunday’s Mashemeji derby opted to rest key meninJacquese Tuyisenge, Nicholas Kipkirui, and captain Harun Shakava. His gamble backfired!
The defending champions were just not at the races and the chemistry on the pitch was abysmal from the first whistle. Hansel Ochieng should have put Nzoai ahead as early as in the 8th minute but his shot dragged wide.
He would later make amends in the 34th minute via a spectacular freekick that flew into the net to give the hosts the lead. Gor Mahia simply never got a way back into the game and with that ends their 24 matches league unbeaten run.
Focus now shifts to Sunday’s derby where a win for Hassan Oktay’s side will confirm them as Champions for the third year running. Of greater importance to AFC Leopards, however, is that they will not be subjected to the humiliating ordeal of having to do a guard of honor to their arch-rivals.
A win against Nzoia would have clinched the title for Gor Mahia thus go int the derby as Champions but luckily for AFC Leopards, Hansel Ochieng had other ideas. They could still halt Gor Mahia’s title celebrations further with a win on Sunday but for now, at least, there will be no guards of honor on Sunday.