Oktay Off The Mark: Gor Crush Zoo In Jamhuri Day SPL Showdown
12th December 2018
Cypriot head coach leads champions to emphatic 4-0n victory on his debut with Guikan brace inspiring rout in a match that finished with both sides down to 10 men
- Erisa Ssekisambu added the gross with a fourth and his first since arriving in the club in the 72nd before both sides were reduced to 10 men when Francis Kahata and Zoo’s Dennis Otieno Kawanga received their marching orders following an altercation
- The Cypriot signed a two-year deal at the club who are chasing a record-extending 18th domestic league success and a third SPL crown on the bounce
- It was the fourth victory for Gor in five league meetings against Zoo who plummeted to the bottom of the log following their 0-1 home defeat to Nzoia Sugar FC in their opening clash last Sunday
NAIROBI, Kenya- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) holders Gor Mahia FC bounced back from opening day defeat to hammer Zoo Kericho FC 4-0 on (Wednesday) to get their defence of their crown off the ground at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
A first half brace from Ephrem Guikan set the champions on the way to the romp with Samuel Onyango adding a third three minutes to the breather to set up a second win in eight SPL outings for the local giants.
Erisa Ssekisambu added the gross with a fourth and his first since arriving in the club in the 72nd before both sides were reduced to 10 men when Francis Kahata and Zoo’s Dennis Otieno Kawanga received their marching orders following an altercation.
It was an emphatic start to the tenure of new Gor head coach, Hassan Oktay, having formally succeeded two-time SPL title winning boss, Dylan Kerr at the hot seat on Tuesday.
The Cypriot signed a two-year deal at the club who are chasing a record-extending 18th domestic league success and a third SPL crown on the bounce.
Their title defence got off to a limp start in Mombasa last Saturday when they went down 1-2 to Bandari FC, the team that finished second to the champions last term in a match Oktay watched from the side lines, having arrived in the country a week earlier.
It was the fourth victory for Gor in five league meetings against Zoo who plummeted to the bottom of the log following their 0-1 home defeat to Nzoia Sugar FC in their opening clash last Sunday.
Oktay handed a debut to former Kariobangi Sharks FC defender, Pascal Ogweno in his starting XI to partner skipper Harun Shakava at the heart of the defence in the absence of Joash Onyango.
Wheeling away
Ex-Zoo star, Nicholas Kipkurui who opened his K’Ogalo account last weekend with the consolation at Bandari once again started on the bench with Ivorian Guikan and Burundi national Francis Mustapha entrusted with leading the attack by Oktay.
From kick-off, fans had barely time to sit down when the Guikan gave the champions the lead in the opening minute with a composed finish inside the box.
He was soon wheeling away in celebration five minutes later when he converted the second and his brace from the spot.
The visitors were left reeling when Onyango netted his first of the campaign in the 42nd as the titleholders went in for half-time 3-0 to the good.
Oktay’s side went for the kill after the teams switched sides and former Vipers SC striker Ssekisambu gave the score line an emphatic victory.
Gor return to action on Sunday when they host Lobi Stars FC of Nigeria in the first leg of their 2018/19 CAF Champions League first round clash at the same venue.
K'Ogalo booked a date with Lobi when they eliminated Malawi champions, Nyasa Big Bullets FC 4-3 on post-match penalties after their two-legged preliminary round encounter ended 1-1 on aggregate.