Hooligans decide Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards tie

The 2015 SportsPesa Premier League second leg tie between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards was shaping up into one of the most entertaining mashemeji derby of recent times until acts of hooliganism brought the tie to its premature end in the 65th minute.

Gor versus AFC Leopards is always an explosive affair regardless of each team’s form. Gor Mahia are currently riding high as the unbeaten, run-away premier league leaders seeking their third consecutive league title. Leopards, on their part, are struggling in position five of the log , having last won the premier league in 1998.

This did not however stop the Ingwe supporters from pouring into Nyayo National Stadium, almost matching the huge turnout of the green army of Gor supporters, as both sets of fans sought to have their own say in the latest display of Kenya’s greatest club football rivalry.

Gor’s superiority showed throughout the match as they pounded the Leopards’ goal with crosses, some of which should have been converted into goals by the likes of Michael Olunga and Khalid Aucho but for keeper Lukas Indeche’s heroics.

Then in the 65th minute, AFC Leopards’ defender Jackson Saleh handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot straight away. It was a clear and incontestable penalty but Leopards fans would not let Gor take it, instead throwing objects on the pitch and causing the match to be abandoned for security reasons.

I am beginning to wonder whether AFC leopard’s  Jackson Saleh derives some kind of pleasure from handling the ball in his penalty area. For heaven’s sake,  how can one explain the defender’s handling of the ball in the penalty area in three high stake matches in a row?

In June during Kenya’s first Afcon qualifier match against Congo,  Saleh denied Kenya a precious win in Congo by unnecessarily handling the ball in the penalty area. Two weeks later, he did the same against Ethiopia and contributed to Kenya’s elimination from the CHAN qualifiers.

Whatever the reasons for Saleh’s repeated errors, the latest handed Gor an opportunity to break the deadlock and pile more pressure on the Ingwe den but as stated, Ingwe fans thought otherwise.

While Leopards fans cannot escape responsibility for causing the tie’s abandonment, the incident also proved that we still have a long way in reaching high standards of stadium security management that are a prerequisite for a professionally run football league.

Although Gor fans behaved admirably during Ingwe fans provocation, there had been some disturbance at half time and referring to the disturbance, the match commissioner was quoted by Supersport explaining that he had asked the police to separate Gor and Leopards fans by creating a buffer zone between them but his advice was ignored.

Moving forward, whatever sanctions are ordered later by the Kenya Premier League, all parties involved in Kenya’s football administration must seek ways of ensuring that going to the stadium becomes a secure, enjoyable, family-friendly experience for all football lovers in the country. Hooliganism should not be allowed to thrive in Kenyan football.

Gor's defence of premier league title unstoppable

Kenyan premier league defending champions Gor Mahia returned to the SportsPesa Premier league in style after their exploits in the recently concluded CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Coach Frank Nuttal had asked his team to return to Kenya with a bang after their 2-0 loss against Tanzania’s Azam FC in the final and, with a 6-1 battering of KCB, they surely did that and some more.

Two classic finishes in the first half were enough to disorient a KCB side that only a week before had beaten Thika United 3-2.

Olunga’s finish for Gor’s first goal was the epitome of a confident attacker's strike as he rushed forward to calmly tap in Godfrey Walusimbi’s perfectly angled pass.

Then to prove that they were currently a class above everyone else in Kenya’s top league, the team fondly called Kogallo by their adoring fans put together a move of the season that started with captain Musa Mohammed’s inch perfect long pass that beautifully found Innocent Wafula around KCB’s 18 yard box.

Wafula dribbled around KCB’s three defenders as he calculated how to launch the perfect pass. When the pass came, it sweetly fell on Meddie Kagere’s right foot and the former APR man hit the best half volley you can expect to see in a game of football to make it 2-0.

In fact, the score should have been 4-0 by half-time but Olunga had two shots brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Zakary 
Onyango.

Gor continued their relentless attack of KCB goal in the second half and in the 56th minute, Kagere launched an assured run towards goal that resulted in defender Mark Odhiambo banging the ball into his own net to make it 3-0 for Gor.

Clearly complacent after their third goal, Gor’s defence went to sleep and gave former Gor striker Paul Kiongera the chance to tap in KCB’s consolation goal.

A late ferocious shot from Olunga was excellently saved by KCB's keeper
Zakary Onyango before Kagere (with his second), midfielder Khalid Aucho and substitute Enock Agwanda put the icing on Gor’s performance for a final 6-1score.

Overall, Gor Mahia’s performance was ample proof that they indeed are playing at a level above everyone else in Kenyan football at present.

It was also proof that their participation at the CECAFA Kagame Cup has given them an edge and swagger that might be enough to wrap up their defence of the premier league title in record time.

Wanyama should stay put at Southampton

It is that high season in European football again when clubs buy to strengthen their squads and sell the unwanted and want-aways.

Already, high profile deals have been concluded for the likes of Angel di Maria (Manchester United-Paris Saint Germain); Robin Van Persie (Manchester United- Fernebahche); Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich-Manchester United); and Raheem Sterling (Liverpool-Manchester City).

There are still some unresolved sagas like the one involving Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, whose linkage to Real Madrid has preoccupied journalists and fans throughout the transfer window. There are also some rumoured high profile signings like the one linking Manchester United with Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez.

Our very own Victor Wanyama of Southampton has not been spared from the rumour mills and reports suggesting the player would like to play Champions League football have been doing the rounds.

Like in the previous two seasons, big clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Fiorentina have been suggested as possible destinations for the Kenyan national team captain.

The best move for Wanyama, however, would be to stay put at Southampton, where he had a wonderful first season and enjoyed huge play time that he would certainly end up coveting were he to make a move to, say, Arsenal-where bench time would be beckoning.

With Morgan Sneiderlin having moved to Manchester United and Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool, Wanyama's defensive midfield role at Southampton will be even more important at the club this season. Having settled so well at the Saints after moving from Celtic, the midfielder will be counted upon by both his coach  and fellow players to instil a calming influence in front of the team's back line.