Gor Mahia Vs Tusker: A Renewed Rivalry

The second leg derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards mid next month is already being touted as the match that could settle the 2013 Kenyan Premier League contest, but the title decider could come much earlier – Tonight when Gor takes on Tusker.

Over the last two seasons the two teams have had brutal run-ins, from the last two editions of the DSTV Super Cup to two consecutive semifinal meetings in the KPL Top 8 where the spoils have been equally shared and the respective winners going on to lift the title and the KSh. 1 million prize money.

This is without mentioning that the brewers yanked the league trophy by the scuff its neck from the K’Ogalo’s grasp on a dramatic final day of last season.

Although tonight's match is actually a first leg match that spilled over to the second leg, the stakes are very high.

Gor Mahia are without doubt the current form team in the league, while Tusker’s campaign has been in fits and starts.

There has never been a better time for Gor to twist the knife in the back of the brewers. The floodlit match at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani will present that opportunity.

Have their pound of flesh

As much as they won’t say it publicly, Gor Mahia and their boisterous fans are dying to have their pound of flesh from the brewers who denied them the league trophy last season.

“Tusker is a good team and I expect a very tough match. But we hope to get a positive result from the encounter,” Gor Mahia coach Bobby Williamson said.
And if Gor Mahia do win, they will open up a massive 10-point gulf at the top which, even with twelve matches remaining, the other title contenders will struggle to bridge.

Already 11 points off the pace, Tusker, on their part, can ill afford to lose any more ground. Tusker have only won once in their last five matches, a run that includes back to back defeats to Muhoron Youth and Mathare United that preceded Saturday’s labored 1-0 victory over Kakamega Homeboyz.

The two losses threw the brewers camp into panic with word doing the rounds that coach Robert Matano is now living on borrowed time.

But last week’s KPL Top 8 triumph over Thika United coupled with the weekend win over Homeboyz has in a way pacified the Ruaraka-based side.

Victory could propel the eighth placed brewers as far as third place on the log. Expect fireworks to light up Kasarani!

Courtesy of  Nesta Kizito