The 2019/20 Kenyan Premier League season will commence on Friday with matches between Kariobangi Sharks and Western Stima and the second one pitting Sofapaka against Posta Rangers.
Saturday will witness a crunch tie between giants Gor Mahia and Tusker FC at Moi Stadium, Kisumu from 4.15 pm EAT. Adorned in green and white, K’Ogalo are expected to intimidate their opponents with numbers as the opener will take place in their turf.
Tusker, in yellow and black, will be aiming to begin taming their fierce rivals, who gave them a margin of 16 points during the 2018/19 campaign.
The two clubs will be heading into the opener with a more revitalized squad as they have made good use of the transfer window. Gor, on 8 August, unveiled 17 newly acquired players and coaches ahead of the new campaign.
The 18-time league winners unveiled their new coach Steven Pollack to replaces Hassan Oktay and assistant Patrick Odhiambo who joined the club from Kenyan Premier League side, Sony Sugar FC.
Among the unveiled were six players from Gor’s youth team. The six were Caleb Omondi. Alphonse Omija, Llyod Khabuchi, Godfrey Ojung’a Rich-Donald Ogango and Samuel Osoo.
The others were Abdalla Shira and Tobias Otieno from Sony Sugar, Maurice Ojwang and Kennedy Otieno from Western Stima, Elvis Ronack from Nzoia Sugar, David Mapigano from Singida United, Dickson Ambundo from Alliance FC, Dennis Oalo from Nairobi Stima, Ivorian striker, Gislein Yikpe Gnamian and Ghanaian forward, Francis Afriyie. Missing during the unveiling was winger Curtis Wekesa who joined the club from Nairobi Stima.
Tusker, on their side, brags of acquiring former K’Ogalo defensive midfielder Hashim Sempala and winger George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo. Other signed players by the Brewers were; Gabriel Wandera, Michael Wanjala, Vincent Ngesa, and Humprey Mieno.
Berry is a Brewer💪🏽
George Odhiambo "Blackberry" joins us from Gor Mahia on a 2 year deal.Welcome Berry to Tusker 🙌!#kpltransfers #TFC #Tusker pic.twitter.com/VxjPDecRHN
— Tusker FC (@TuskerFC_club) August 8, 2019
Gor Mahia and Tusker FC have met 34 times. The Green Army won 15 matches. The Brewers won 7 matches. 12 ended in a draw. My bet would be for Gor to carry the day owing to their current form and the above statistics.