Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards fans react to 99th Mashemeji Derby

Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards fans awashed the internet with mixed reactions following the 99th Mashemeji Derby played on Sunday, 26 April at the Nyayo National Stadium, which ended 1-0 in favour of K’Ogalo.

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In what is Kenya's biggest club football fixture, the two giants locked horns in a match that not only had the bragging rights at stake but also a go at the FKF Premier League title.

After a goalless first half, Gor Mahia captain Alpha Chris Onyango pounced on a cross from Bryton Onyona inside the area before pulling the trigger and breaking the deadlock in the 83rd minute to guarantee his club maximum points.

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In the end, it was jubilation for the 21-time league champions and gnashing of teeth for Ingwe.

Mozzart Sport pitched camp at Nyayo Stadium, speaking to both sets of fans after the match, while also sampling online reactions as summarised in this article.

“I honestly did not have much faith coming into this game, considering we had gone for three matches without a win and a goal, while Leopards were on a good run.

However, the first five minutes of the game restored my confidence as I saw a team that was willing to fight by getting into tackles, challenging for every 50-50 ball. At the end of the day, I think we deserved the win,” said Gor Mahia fan Fredrick Okode.

For his colleague Dickson Mandela, the victory signified another league title for Gor Mahia.

“Coming into this game, we all knew that the team that wins the match would clearly have one hand on the league title. While Gor Mahia wanted to win, Leopards played like they were just avoiding a loss, and that proved to be the difference.

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With six points clear at the top of the table now, I doubt there is a way we are going to bottle the title. The gap also gives us some room for mistakes, while AFC cannot afford to even draw one more match. We are just getting ready for the coronation,” stated Mandela.

For Emily Akoth, the win was revenge for the loss suffered in the first leg and breaking AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani's unbeaten record in the derby both as a player and coach.

“It is on these same grounds that Leopards broke our hearts in the first leg with a similar score line. This was just serving them hot revenge.

We have also handed coach Fred Ambani his first loss in the derby, something he used to rub on our faces and did not sit well with us,” she noted.

While Gor Mahia fans were jubilating, the Blue Army was raging, from blaming the referee to their coach and the players at large.

In the club’s Facebook page, Timon Mucana congratulated Gor for a deserved win.

“Congratulations, Shemeji, on the win. You were clearly the better team, especially in the first half; were it not for Katasi (Humphrey), we could have conceded more goals.

Sad that we may have to wait longer for a league title, having come so close this season,” said Mucana.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Brian Muraya faulted both coach Fred Ambani and referee Peter Kamaku for the defeat.

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“We were so poor against a Gor Mahia side that was so weak coming into this match. I think coach Ambani got his tactics totally wrong. Why was he defensive, yet we were the ones in dire need of three points?

We have always played better when both Tyson (Otieno) and Madada (Kelly) are on the pitch, as was the case in the second half. He cost us three points in this derby.

The referee also had a hand in this loss. Morrison should not have finished the match. He made some bad tackles that would have seen him get a red card. We were also denied a penalty for a handball,” explained Muraya.

Muraya’s sentiments are in line with those of club chairman Boniface Ambani, who made a scathing attack on match officials through his Facebook page.

For an AFC Leopards fan under the Facebook name Brand Official, who made his maiden derby appearance, the experience was worth it.

“Personally, I enjoyed it, being my first experience for mashemeji derby, I've enjoyed that's what a derby should look like, despite our defeat, we will come again stronger,” he stated.