Champions Gor Mahia State Intent To Claim Third Successive SPL Title

23rd July 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

They clinched last season’s title with 72 points, eight clear of their closest challengers Bandari FC, to make it two successive crowns under two different coaches

Gor Mahia FC celebrate after being handed the 2018/19 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) trophy after a 1-1 draw against Posta Rangers FC at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday, May 25, 2019. PHOTO | DUNCAN SIRMA | SPN

SUMMARY

Record Kenyan league winners Gor Mahia FC have stated their intent to retain the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title despite losing key players ahead of the 2019/20 season
Head coach Hassan Oktay has proved to be influential to the K’Ogalo fraternity and is hopeful that other than the SPL, he can lead Gor to the lucrative stage of the CAF Champions League
This comes after Gor were drawn to play against Aigle Noir CS who bagged the 2018/19 Burundi Premier League title with 68 points from 30 matches

NAIROBI, Kenya- Record Kenyan league winners Gor Mahia FC have stated their intent to retain the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title despite losing key players ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Gor clinched last season’s title with 72 points, eight clear of their closest challengers Bandari FC, to make it two successive crowns under two different coaches.

Head coach Hassan Oktay has proved to be influential to the K’Ogalo fraternity and is hopeful that other than the SPL, he can lead Gor to the lucrative stage of the CAF Champions League.

“It was great to win the league last season but now we have to shift focus to the upcoming task. It will not be easy but we have to do our best to have a better season than the last,” Oktay told SportPesa News.

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This comes after Gor were drawn to play against Aigle Noir CS who bagged the 2018/19 Burundi Premier League title with 68 points from 30 matches.

The aggregate winner of the first round will meet either USM Algers of Algeria or Niger's SONIDEP in the second round.

“We are in training now and we will continue to build the team to ensure that we are prepared for the new season,” the 46-year old stated.

Gor will begin their SPL title defense against 2016 SPL champions Tusker FC on Sunday, September 1 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos where they were handed the coveted trophy.

They will be seeking to clinch a record-extending 19th league title and returning midfielder Kenneth Muguna, who had a failed stint at Albanian side FK Tirana, believes that Gor has the might to have a say in which way the title goes.

"When in a Gor jersey, you have to fight and help the team compete in any competition. It will be the same case this season, we want to win as usual and that means as players, we have to give absolutely everything in order to have an impact," Muguna stated.

Gor have had to surrender the services of Rwandese striker Jacques Tuyisenge who joined Angolan giants Petro Atletico and Francis Kahata who joined Tanzanian powerhouse Simba SC.

On Tuesday morning, the Kenyan giants announced the signing of Maurice Ojwang from Western Stima FC and might continue to add to their squad to beef it up ahead of the challenging season ahead.