It was billed as the
title decider! The most important game for the front-runners for the 2013 Kenya
Premier League, Gor Mahia and Sofapaka. The match that was to decide if the
green army won their first title in 18 years, or whether Sofapaka, popular as Batoto Ba Mungu clinched their second
title since their promotion to the Kenyan top-flight soccer in 2009.
After a grueling 90
minutes at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Ugandan hitman, Dan
Sserunkuma earned Gor Mahia a 1-0 victory over a wasteful Sofapaka side. This
is the goal that effectively ended K’Ogallo’s 18-year old wait for the league
crown. It also ensured that the green army faithful earned the bragging rights
over ther arch-rivals, AFC Leopards.
Last season’s painful
memories of a last-day title loss to Tusker Fc, had been the nightmare to every
green army follower. The agonizing day at Nairobi’s City Stadium, when Thika
United denied Gor Mahia the premiership crown that every fan believed that it
was theirs to lose. However, as many K’Ogallo fans decried, the football gods
had conspired with fate to deny Gor Mahia football’s bragging rights.
With three matches to
go, Gor Mahia has all but sealed the 2013 premiership title, leaving their mashemejis, AFC Leopards and Sofapaka to
fight for the second spot. Even sweeter is that, Gor Mahia will fly Kenya’s
flag in next year’s CAF Champions League; the sweet taste of Africa’s premier
club competition! The ever optimistic K’Ogallo fans are crossing their fingers
and hoping that this will be another 1989 when, a Peter Daw’o led-Gor Mahia,
won the Mandela Cup and etched their name into the continent’s history books;
the first club from East and Central Africa to win a continental title.
However, this is all history and Gor Mahia has a chance to lock horn with the
likes of Al Ahly, Orlando Pirates and Esperance, among other giants of African
club football.
As a football loving
nation, we hope that the current Gor Mahia side, that has been the most
consistent for the past three seasons will give us something to smile about,
when club continental soccer kicks off next year.
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