Happy birthday Gor Mahia

The most decorated club in the country Gor Mahia are celebrating 54 years of existence since the formation of the club back on 17 February 1968.

Immediately after their inception, K’Ogalo, who were formally established as a merger of Luo Union and Luo Sports Club (also known as Luo Stars), defied all odds as they won the league title on a first time of asking during that same year in a show of intent that has led the club to claim the record number of league titles in the land - 19.

According to history, the club was named after a legendary medicine man from Kanyamwa in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay in Luo mythology, whose nickname was Gor Mahia (Mahia is Luo for magic) because he was famous for performing magic.

The club's most famous nickname, K'Ogalo, also stems from the medicine man, whose full name was Gor Wuod Ogada nyakwar Ogalo (Gor son of Ogada grandson of Ogalo), and as such was known as Gor Makogalo, or Gor K'Ogalo in short, which means Gor of Ogalo's homestead.

The name Gor Mahia was settled upon from a shortlist of other Luo cultural heroes and warriors that included Lwanda Magere among others.

After winning their first title in 1968, Gor lifted their second six years later in 1974. Two years later, the green army made history as they became the first Kenyan football club to win the league title unbeaten thanks to the exploits of famous playmaker Allan Thigo who also acted as coach.

FKFPL action takes two-week break

They again won the league title in 1979 before doing a three peat in 1983, 1984, 1985. Between then and 2000, five titles would follow in 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995 where financial challenges started plaguing the club.

During the 2000s, Gor would fail to get any league silverware owing to majorly financial challenges. It is 2011 that proved to be a landmark year as dairy company Tuzo came to the rescue of the club with a 38 million sponsorship deal.

Just two years after, the club would again do yet another three peat as they dominated the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons in the process of ending their 18 year league title drought. The 2015 season was particularly impressive as they finished the whole campaign unbeaten for a second time under the guidance of Englishman Frank Nuttal.

Another three peat for a third time would follow in the 2017, 2018, 2018–19 seasons as the club extended their record number of titles to eighteen. The 19th league title came in the premature 2019–20 season where Gor was declared the winner as they sat on top of the log by the time the novel coronavirus pandemic forced the league into a halt.

African Cup Winners' Cup: 1

1987

CECAFA Clubs Cup: 3

1980, 1981, 1985

Kenyan Premier League: 19

1968, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2018–19, 2019–20

Kenya Challenge Cup/Moi Golden Cup/Transparency Cup/President's Cup/KFF Cup/FKL Cup/FKF Cup: 9

1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2021

Kenyan Super Cup: 5

2009, 2013 (pre-season), 2015, 2017, 2019

KPL Top 8 Cup: 2

2012, 2015