Gor Paint Kisumu Green In Colourful 2018 SPL Coronation Party

KISUMU, Kenya- Gor Mahia FC finally laid their hands on the 2018 SportPesa Premier League trophy in a colourful coronation ceremony at their spiritual home of Kisumu that was marked by an entertaining 2-2 draw against Mathare United FC at Moi Stadium on Sunday.

The official crowning of Kenya’s most-decorated club was complete when captain, Harun Shakava, received the cup-which denotes a record-stretching 17th title in their glittering history- by former Prime Minister and club patron, Raila Amolo Odinga.

K’Ogalo raced to a 2-0 advantage when Jacques Tuyisenge and Humphrey Mieno netted either side of the halves before Mathare, the 2008 league winners, stormed back in the latter stages to level the contest through substitute Klinsman Omulanga and a penalty from Cliff Nyakeya.

Gor custodian, Fredrick Odhiambo, then produced a stunning save in the final minute of added time to spare the champions defeat before the festivities to honour the best team in the land commenced at their spiritual home.

Under the tightest of security, an immaculate stage was set up at the centre of the pitch with four models holding the trays with the medals as head coach Dylan Kerr and his players put on special t-shirts emblazoned with 2018 SportPesa Premier League champions.

Raila, accompanied by other key guests among them, former Sports Minister, Dr. Paul Otuoma, Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr. Matthews Owili ,Col (Rtd) Matthews Waria who was holding brief for Gor's title partners SportPesa CEO, Captain Ronald Karauri and club chairman, Ambrose Rachier then took to the platform.

One by one, the victorious Gor players ascended to the rostrum to receive their championship medals before the moment each one of them dreamed of arrived when Shakava, who is serving his first season as skipper, lifted the trophy aloft to spark manic celebrations at the packed stadium as confetti went up in the air.

It was evident from early morning something special was brewing as Gor fans from within Kisumu and the ‘diaspora’ descended on the lakeside city, some after a night of travel, weary but in high spirits.

All roads led to Moi Stadium where a steady trickle turned into a flood of green-clad supporters as the appointed hour approached, with traders dealing in Gor merchandise make a large profit when fans gleefully snapped items ranging from replica jerseys, scarves, hats and other paraphernalia.

With just over an hour to the 2pm local time kick-off (+3GMT) the Russia stand was filling up as music boomed around the baking hot stadium.

With drums, horns and other instruments creating a simmering atmosphere, the crowd was roused about 30 minutes to kick off when Gor emerged for their warm-up routine, coming in after their Mathare rivals had already had a feel of the synthetic pitch.

The arrival of the chief guest and former premier Raila 10 minutes to the start flanked by other dignitaries meant it was all systems go and the formality of the match could take centre stage.

Stripped and ready for action, both sets of players emerged with Mathare mounting a guard of honour for the champions. Kerr, his players and staff then posed for a group photo to immortalise another big moment in the decorated K’Ogalo history.

Ahead of the game, Kerr had fired up his players by insisting the owed him a huge performance to match the occasion having seen his team slump to three successive SPL defeats prior to Saturday.

Through ball

Sent out in a 4-3-3 formation, Gor were clearly on a mission from the onset, racing off the blocks despite the scorching conditions with Humphrey Mieno, George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Francis Kahata and Tuyisenge knitting neat passes that almost unlocked Mathare in the fourth minute but the latter was ruled offside before he could pull the trigger.

Soon after, the Rwanda international tumbled down the box but half-hearted appeals for a penalty were waved away but if Mathare had not heeded the warning, the crowd was up on their feet in the eighth when he notched the opener.

Raphael Asudi who was handed a starting XI role by Kerr justified his inclusion when his through ball sprung Tuyisenge clear of the off side trap and despite the pressure the champions have been under, the striker showed deadly steel by calmly rounding Job Ochieng’ in the Mathare goal and tucking it in.

That was cue for the Green Army to go bonkers but the celebrations were almost cut short when Mathare hit back three minutes later with their star-man, Cliff Nyakeya was played through by Chrispin Oduour but Gor custodian, Peter Odhiambo, read the danger and hared off his line to block the effort.

Nyakeya got another bite of the cherry from the rebound but could only steer the ball to the side netting.

Clifford Alwanga was the next to threaten an equaliser in the 20th when he turned on six pence and unloaded a shot but Odhiambo was well behind the attempt and with the clock reading 25, Gor should have extended their advantage.

Once again, the champions who had brought all their party tricks sliced Mathare open when Kahata released ‘Blackberry’ but having floored Ochieng’, his finish was hacked off the line by the retreating Olwande for a fruitless corner.

Namesake and teammate Odhiambo produced a brilliant save from Alwanga as Mathare forced three corners in succession before the referee halted the game at the half hour mark for a well-deserved water break.

Blackberry miss

Three minutes after the restart, ‘Blackberry’ went on a lung bursting run on the left in a devastating counter and advanced to the box unchecked but his attempt to side foot it across Ochieng’ whistled just wide with Mathare let off the hook. Had he looked up, two of his teammates were unmarked inside the box.

Tuyisenge could then not direct his header on target in the 38th after Karim Nizigiyimana shimmied past three Mathare players and floated in a cross from the right in the last notable chance of the first half that saw the home side go to the breather a goal to the good.

There was a light moment at the interval when a fire engine soaked some of the fans in the Russia stand with water at their own request as they relished relief from the punishing heat when it came round to cool the playing surface in readiness for the second half.

Mathare were the first to have a pot shot at goal from a set piece before their head coach, Francis Kimanzi introduced Klinsman Omulanga for Alwanga in the 50th but three minutes later, his side were 0-2 down when Mieno stretched the champion’s advantage.

From a corner, the ball floated into the box with no Mathare defender in sight, allowing the midfielder to cushion a header into the net and moments later, Kerr brought on Samuel Onyango came for Ivorian forward Ephrem Guikan for his first change.

Kimanzi responded by summoning Daniel Mwaura to take the place of Alphonse Ndonye and in 64th, the slum boys got a sniff when a grateful Onyango gathered Nyakeya’s shot.

The 2008 champions did succeed to halve the deficit in the 67th when Omulanga beat Odhiambo for 1-2 and there was a further scare for Gor when Osudi went down in a heap before he returned to the field of play after treatment on the touchline.

He did not last long with Kerr making a double switch, bringing on Charles Momanyi in his place with Burundi forward, Francis Mustafa resting ‘Blackberry’.

After a second water break, the stadium descended into a hush after Mathare were awarded a penalty when Joash Onyango impeded Omulanga inside the box and Nyakeya stepped up to take responsibility from the spot, beating Odhiambo with a cool finish for 2-2.

Kahata came within inches of putting Gor ahead with three minutes of normal time left on the clock before the Kenya international floated in a dangerous free kick that was headed over by Onyango as the referee signaled four added minutes.

It came down to Onyango’s heroics to sign off the match in the 94th and soon after the champions received their ultimate prize, the party could officially begin in style but not before a helicopter landed on the pitch to fly Raila away from the venue of yet another momentous moment in the astonishing history of the most-storied team in the country.

As the chopper took off and disappeared to the skies, Gor players posed for photos as they paraded the trophy around to their supporters, with the robust security in place ensuring their was no pre-mature pitch invasion since it was their moment of glory to savour.

Afterwards, the Gor team bus with Kerr perched atop was then escorted out of the stadium by chanting fans in full voice in a spectacle to behold.

SQUADS

Gor Mahia

Starting XI: Fredrick Odhiambo, Haron Shakava, Karim Nizigiyimana, Karim Nizigiyimana, Raphael Osudi, Joash Onyango, Ernest Wendo, Francis Kahata, Humphrey Mieno, Jacques Tuyisenge, Ephrem Guikan, George Odhiambo

Subs: Shaban Odhoji (GK), Charles Momanyi, Cercidy Okeyo, Samuel Onyango, Bernard Ondiek, Kevin Omondi, Francis Mustafa