Kerr Slams Fans Despite Winning Second Successive SPL Title
27th August 2018
Newly crowned champions Gor leave the country today for the Confed Cup match against USM Alger
- Gor won the coveted SPL trophy with six games to spare after a convincing 2-0 victory over eternal rivals AFC Leopards SC
- Chaos ensued soon after when Bernard Ondiek scored to give K’Ogalo a two-goal advantage
- Leopards are third in the standings with 48 points and with six games left
- Supporters caused unsavoury scenes during Saturday's Mashemeji Derby
NAIROBI, Kenya- Gor Mahia FC head coach Dylan Kerr slammed some fans for their destructive behavior at the MISC Kasarani Stadium during Saturday's Mashemeji Derby where he guided his side to a second successive SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title.
Gor won the coveted SPL trophy with six games to spare after a convincing 2-0 victory over eternal rivals AFC Leopards SC, pushing their points total to 71, an astounding 20 ahead of second-place Bandari FC.
Boniface Omondi broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a superb right-footed finish, putting Gor on course to be crowned domestic champions for an unprecedented 17th time.
Chaos ensued soon after when Bernard Ondiek scored to give K’Ogalo a two-goal advantage, with Leopards fans reacting by throwing seats and water bottles onto the pitch, while shouting insulting chants at the match referee.
“Firstly, I want to say that I'm extremely proud of my players today (Saturday). They kept their cool throughout the game amidst the chaos and held on for this important victory,” Kerr told SportPesa News.
“The feeling of guiding this incredible team to two successive titles is amazing to say the least. We have played more matches than any other team, losing only once so far in the league.
Leopards frustration
“Though we have been confirmed as the 2018 SPL winners, the work isn’t done yet. I know what the fans want and we will do all we need to so as to ensure we are the first Kenyan team in history to qualify for the quarters of the CAF Confederations Cup,” he underlined.
Though some Ingwe fans in the stands were convinced the referee was biased Felix Ekai and his assistants handled the pressure cooker game with utmost professionalism.
It was a case of frustration as the reality of not winning
the local league since 1998 sunk in and could have sparked most of their anger. Leopards are third
in the standings with 48 and with six games left, a second-place finish
is the best the Rodolfo Zapata-coached side can achieve.
“It is such a disgrace to witness such atrocity from the fans. I was totally saddened by their actions.
“Such scenes ruin the beautiful game of football and I urge all fans to resist taking matters into their own hands no matter what happens. We are trying to better the football in Kenya and such things really give us a bad look,” Kerr lamented.
Gor left the country on Monday for Algeria where they will face USM Alger on Wednesday as both teams seek a point to top the group and qualify for the quarters of the Confed Cup.