I never believed that form plays little or no part in determining outcome of Nairobi Derby (Mashemeji Derby) till I watched AFC Leopards force a 1-1 draw against high flying bitter rivals Gor Mahia in April this year.
The saying has always been that the off-form team between the two always wins the derby, and in most cases uses it as a platform to animate themselves in the league.
It happened for “Ingwe” in the first leg of this battle. When everyone including yours truly predicted a thorough beating for a limping Leopard then, they surprised all and sundry with a fight of their lives coming from behind to hold on-song “K’Ogalo” to a frustrating draw at Nyayo.
Leopards troubles were many then as they still are today; issues of unpaid salaries and allowances had plagued the team heading into the derby with reports of players staging sit-ins in demand for their dues dominating the headlines.
But all that did not show on the material day as each player honored the jersey by producing some of the best displays of the season.
The repeat of this much awaited clash is taking place this weekend, precisely on Sunday, August 23 at Nyayo Stadium.
The battle lines have been drawn and as usual the two sets of fans are already at each other’s necks in an online show of might, as they try to outdo each other on which side will carry the day. Sample these:
“And as I go to bed let me assure you one thing; AFC Leopards CANNOT beat Gor Mahia in football. Maybe in eating.” @TomBwana tweeted.
“I guarantee our Gor counterparts that it’s not form or current run in SPL that will carry the day but tactics and history. Woe unto Gor when Ingwe will open the score sheet for Logarusic has a very astute defensive mentality.” Leopards fan Lugendo Bernard posted on Facebook.
Away from the banter, it’s clearer that class and not form will prevail on Sunday. A quick look at both squads gives a picture of two teams in different leagues.
While Gor Mahia kept the core team that played in the first stanza and is so far unbeaten in the league by round 23, Ingwe is a completely new outfit hurriedly assembled at the stroke of June transfer window after a mass exodus of players from the 13-time champions.
Star players for Leopards in the first leg all left with Ugandan Musa Mudde joining Bandari FC, Jocob Kelly who scored the equalizer is now in Zambia with Nkana FC, inspirational keeper Wycliffe Kasaya moved to Nakumatt, with Noah Wafula crossing over to Tusker.
The team consists mainly of players who worked under current Leopards Coach Zdravko Logarusic when he was still at Gor Mahia in 2012 with few additions for other teams.
They have struggled to get their rhythm and are currently sitting fifth on the SPL log with 35 points, a whooping 21 points a drift of league leaders and their Sunday opponent. In fact Gor’s goal difference at 38 is better than Ingwe’s points tally, depicting a team in it’s own class.
Most Gor players including; Abouba Sibomana, Khalid Aucho, Godfrey Walusimbi, Michael Olunga, Collins Okoth, Harun Shakava and goal keeper Boniface Oluoch are regulars in their respective national teams, compared to Bernard Mang’oli and Edwin Wafula from Ingwe’s side.
Ingwe’s marksman Michael Khamati boasts of just two goals, a way below average performance compared to Gor’s Michael Olunga who has scored 15 goals, not to mention Meddie Kagere’s 13 and Ali Abondo’s 10.
All these points to a team a cut above the rest, a reality that even Leopards coach, the self declared King of derby Logarusic agrees to.
“Let’s accept it, Gor are having a great season, they are too strong for most of the KPL teams.” Logarusic declared.
As the clock keeps ticking away and the hour nearing, I’m getting more convinced that this will be a contest of class and not form.
@bonfaceosano
