The last time Kenyan football
clubs tasted continental glory was back in 1987. The Peter Dawo led- Gor Mahia,
popularly K’Ogalo ( House of K’Ogalo) won the then Mandela Cup Winners Cup,
after defeating continental giants, Esperance Sportive De Tunis of Tunisia at a
packed Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani ( currently Safaricom Stadium
Kasarani). Since then, apart from Kenya Breweries final loss to Daring Club Motema
Pembe of The Democratic Republic of Congo, in the 1994 Cup Winners Cup, the
glory days have slowly but surely been turned into constant disappointments and
football heartbreaks.
Kenyan clubs have since
turned into the continent’s whipping boys! Year-in year-out, our clubs bow out
in the early rounds. Even the locally dreaded Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have
been boxed into the losing corner as clubs from across the continent teach them
tough and bitter footballing lessons!
However, as the 2014
Continental season kicks off, our representatives in the continental
assignments have everything to play for. Gor Mahia will fly the nation’s colors
in the CAF Champions League and face US Bitam of Gabon in the first round. The first
leg will be in Nairobi on Saturday 8 February 2014, with the return leg to be played
in a fortnight in Libreville. The Presidents Cup Champions, AFC Leopards will
clash with Ethiopia’s Defence Fc on Sunday, 9 February at the Nyayo National
Stadium.
Both Gor Mahia and AFC
Leopards enjoy the most following in the country, a near- fanatical fan-base. The
two community-based clubs have always counted on the 12th man to win
their matches locally and this week-end, will be no different. The fact that
the two clubs have enjoyed unrivalled rise and brightening of their football fortunes
in the local action in recent years, will also come into play. On one hand, the
participation of Ingw’e in the continental scene is indeed a timely reward for
their fans that have been thirsty to see their blue and white submarine toast
glory, besides a return back to the continental action. Come Sunday, and
Isukuti beats should add the much-needed home support to defeat Defence Fc and
make the return leg in Addis Ababa a mere formality.
On the other hand, the K’Ogalo
faithful have all reasons to believe that their tam can match up to the
continent’s best, and the best way to prove this is on Saturday, when the Bobby
Williamson-led team comes up against US Bitam, in the continent’s most
prestigious club tourney. Gor Mahia has also been the most consistent team in
the local league, twice finishing as runners-up to both Ulinzi Stars and Tusker
FC, before finally landing the champions tag in 2013. The belief in the team
must be high due to these stellar performances in the local action.
Then, there is the
monetary motivations and consequent psychological boost that players and the
technical units at both clubs have enjoyed since Mumias Sugar Company and Tuzo,
owned by Spin Knit Dairies handed hefty sponsorships packages to AFC Leopards
and Gor Mahia respectively. It is no secret that players at these two clubs are
among the best paid local footballers. Thus, with the salaries and allowance
worries a thing of the past, the two clubs should put up on their best shows
over the week-end and give their faithful fans, followers and supporters
something to smile about.
Continental action
makes an early comeback to Nairobi this week-end, and both Ingw’e and K’Ogalo
should make us proud. Harambee Stars gave the long-suffering football fans a
perfect end to 2013 by winning the 2013 GOTV CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. The onus
is now on AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia to give us the perfect start to 2014!
