©Mozzart Sport
©Mozzart Sport

Mashemeji Derby: Johnathan McKinstry spells out what it will take to win

Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 06.10.23. | 09:12

It will be the 94th time the two arch rivals will be facing each other

Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry holds that if his charges can perform at a maximum level then they will stand a high chance of winning the Mashemeji Derby.

The clash between nemesis AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia takes place on Saturday 7 October at Kasarani Stadium.

It will be the 94th time the two arch rivals will be facing each other.

"The only thing we can control is playing at maximum level. We know that if we can go out and perform at our maximum level, nine times out ten, we're going to win," the Irishman said ahead of the much anticipated tie.

In the last encounter in the second leg of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), Leopards emerged victorious, beating K'Ogalo 2-1 to end a seven-year winless streak.

McKinstry, who is yet to win the derby as the first leg ended in a barren draw, will certainly be under pressure from fans to restore the previous dominance.

"We were incredibly unfortunate. We dominated the game, and if it wasn't for a defender slipping at a corner then our opponent wouldn't have taken the victory, but that's how football is," the former Uganda Cranes coach said.

Leopards and Gor Mahia, the country's oldest and most successful clubs in terms of trophies, have met 94 times previously in all competitions.

Gor Mahia, also known as K'Ogalo, boasts 31 wins in the encounters, while Leopards, nicknamed Ingwe have claimed 28 victories. 34 games have ended in draws.

McKinstry has appealed to fans to come out in large numbers and fill up the 60,000 capacity Kasarani Stadium.

"We saw a capacity crowd over the weekend when Leopards hosted Shabana at Ulinzi Complex, let's see if we can go one more better than that, and show them the real spectacle in Kenyan football."




tags

Johnathan McKinstryGor MahiaMashemeji DerbyAFC Leopards

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