AFC Leopards new head Coach Ivan Minnaert is oozing confidence just hours away to the biggest football rivalry in Kenya.

Ivan’s second match in charge of “Ingwe” will be against their eternal rivals Gor Mahia, in the first “Mashemeji Derby” of the new season, which go down tomorrow, Sunday 6 at Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.

The Belgian is however under no pressure at all, and so are his charges. In an interview this evening with Soka25east.com the former Rayon Sport man clearly put it that the pressure will be squarely on the opponent.

“We are absolutely under no pressure, the pressure will be on Gor Mahia who are yet to win a match this season,” Ivan said.

K’Ogalo are winless, drawing all their past three ties, and are also finding it hard to score. Ingwe on the hand have won two matches and drawn just one – the last victory being a midweek 1-0 triumph against fancied Bandari FC.

Ivan is no stranger to derbies in Africa, having experienced the same in Mali and Rwanda.

“It’s like any other match, the most important are the three points, and that’s our aim tomorrow, to bag all the points. I have handled derbies before in Mali and Rwanda, so I know how to go about them,”

The last “Mashemeji Derby” did not end due to crowd trouble, and was later awarded to Gor Mahia. Ivan doesn’t want a repeat of this tomorrow.

“I would rather lose in the field than being fined later, so I’m calling on Ingwe fans to be patient until the end of the match. The boys are ready and I know they will deliver,”

He is aware of the poor fitness levels amongst his players, but he will not allow that to interfere with his objective of the day.

“We have not had enough time to work on our fitness this week. We will try to score as many goals as possible before the match advances.”

Leopards boasts a better head to head record in the derby having won it 27 times, four more than their rivals. This will be the 80th edition of the derby.

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com