Record league winners Gor Mahia were declared champions with two games left to play despite a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Vihiga United FC at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
The mighty K’Ogalo continued to show the chokehold they have on the local top flight after they became SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions for a third successive time last Wednesday.
The Champions will be handed the Sportpesa Premier League trophy on Saturday, May 24th, in Machakos after their league assignment against lowly Posta Rangers FC, who they downed 2-1 in the reverse fixture in January.
This is after Gor Mahia snubbed Kisumu for their coronation opting for Machakos after their face of with the Mailmen.
The club’s treasurer Sally Bolo has urged fans to come out in numbers and celebrate the victory.
“We urge K’ogalo followers to come and celebrate with the players and Technical Bench. They have been part of our success, therefore it will be great to have them around. We need to celebrate as a family”, Sally said during an interview with the club’s media team.
After clinching their record-extending 18th league crown under Turkish tactician Hassan Oktay, We take a look at the five games that handed the League giants Gor Mahia the coveted title.
Gor Mahia thrash Zoo FC 4-0 to bounce back from opening loss (December 12, 2018)
The second league match of the 2018/19 season saw a bruised Gor take on Zoo, a match that saw both sides finish the game with 10 men.
Gor really needed to win this match and register a first win under their new manager Hassan Oktay, who was being attacked by the vicious fans after an opening day loss to Bandari FC at the Mbaraki Stadium.
Oktay’s charges responded in great style after the loss to Bandari and came out 4-0 winners courtesy of an Ephrem Guikan double, a Samuel Onyango effort and a late Erisa Ssekisambu goal.
The victory did well to restore the winning team spirit that the club is accustomed to, giving Oktay the hope and urgency to take Gor to greater heights.
Gor Mahia vs Kenya Commercial Bank FC (January 27)
Gor experienced a tough start to the SPL campaign and came into this game against the newcomers KCB having already lost twice, to Bandari on opening day and to SportPesa Cup winners Kariobangi Sharks FC in the last game of the calendar year.
Things would only get tougher in the game that was marred by fan trouble, which could not do much to help the struggling Gor team who ended up losing the game 1-0.
That lone Kennedy Owino first half strike definitely struck a nerve among the players, technical bench and K’Ogalo faithful who all knew that something had to give if they were to retain the title.
Following the loss, Gor went on an amazing 20-match unbeaten streak that elevated them to the top of the table with five games in hand, truly instrumental in their course to eventually winning the title.
Gor Mahia(hardest-fought victory) vs Tusker FC (February 27)
The game against the brewers was arguably Gor’s hardest-fought victory they have had to encounter throughout the entire campaign.
They were in high spirits and full of confidence after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Algerian outfit NA Hussein Dey in the CAF Confederation Cup, probably the reason they managed to battle for the crucial league win.
Boniface Omondi was sent off in the 26th minute, giving Tusker the advantage but a resolute performance by Oktay’s team and a second half Nicholas Kipkirui goal was enough for the champions.
The win saw them reduce the point difference between them and then top side Bandari FC to three points, with two games in hand.
Sony Sugar FC vs Gor Mahia (April 3)
Sony and Gor have been rivals in the domestic top flight for years and this five-goal thriller proved the same.
Gor came from behind twice to edge 10-man Sony 3-2 at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu to garner all three points and continue to make a stern statement on their intention to win an unprecedented 18th league title.
Former Gor forward Enock Agwanda put the hosts ahead before Rwandese captain Jacques Tuyisenge equalized, Joshua Nyatini scored two minutes after to put Sony ahead once more.
Samuel Onyango leveled matters once more before the break and a late Kipkirui header sunk Sony to give Gor all three points as they maintained their unbeaten streak.
The level of determination and the resilience shown by Gor amidst the constant screaming from Oktay on the touchline, proved that they had what it takes to overcome any opposition and reclaim the title they won last season under Briton Dylan Kerr.
AFC Leopards SC vs Gor Mahia (May 19) The Mashemeji Derby
The Mashemeji Derby is the most awaited game in the SPL calendar despite Gor proving to be more superior to their archrivals in the recent past.
#MashemejiDerby is here!!!
👕: AFC Leopards vs Gor Mahia
🗓: 19th May 2019
⏱: 4:15 PM
🏟: Kasarani StadiumCome witness one of the biggest derby in Kenya as they battle it out in the 86th encounter! Come one. Come all. #SPL pic.twitter.com/ZjlhptBnvI
— SportPesa Premier League (@SPL_Kenya) May 15, 2019
This one was no different as thousands of fans thronged the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi to get a live glimpse of the spectacle.
Leopards had not beaten Gor in a league match since 2016, when they edged them 1-0 courtesy of a Lamine Diallo goal but the fans came in huge numbers hoping for a different script on the day.
However, Gor knew what was at stake and displayed a great command of the game to shoot to a 3-0 lead from a Nicholas Kipkirui brace and a Tuyisenge effort.
Leopards got a consolation goal through Vincent Oburu but once again the derby was one-sided and other than the sweet win against their eternal rivals, it was then that Gor knew they had one hand on the SPL trophy.
Gor Mahia fans gone wild after Kipkirui scored his first brace in the derby! #MashemejiDerby pic.twitter.com/HYOWTZsukw
— SportPesa Care (@SportPesa_Care) May 19, 2019