Gor Set For Machakos SPL Title Coronation, Club Back On Twitter
23rd May 2019
K'Ogalo held their last two crowning ceremonies in their spiritual home of the lakeside city of Kisumu having been handed the 2015 trophy at the MISC Kasarani
- The three-peat league winners who sealed the crown on Wednesday despite being held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Vihiga United FC also made their return to micro-blogging social media platform Twitter with a new handle @FCGorMahia after their previous account that had almost a million followers was closed
- The champions who clinched their latest trophy by reaching 71 points from 32 games, having won 21, drawn seven and lost only four, will play Rangers (31) who need victory to put further distance between them and the drop zone
- Saturday's coronation could be the last chance for the Gor faithful to see the trio of their stars, captain Harun Shakava, record signing and top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge who is also the vice-skipper and Kenya international, Francis Kahata among others
NAIROBI, Kenya- Gor Mahia FC will be coronated as the 2018/19 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions on Saturday evening at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos after they take on struggling Posta Rangers FC in what is billed to be another memorable title party for their devoted fans.
The three-peat league winners who sealed the crown on Wednesday despite being held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Vihiga United FC also made their return to micro-blogging social media platform Twitter with a new handle @FCGorMahia after their previous account that had almost a million followers was closed.
“I'm really excited about the unprecedented 18th championship title of the SportPesa Premier League and more so the fact that we are keeping it for good having won three times in a row, a milestone in the league’s history,” said an elated Gor chairman, Ambrose Rachier, gushed.
MUST READ: Mighty Champ18ons! Gor Seal Third Successive SPL Title In Vihiga Draw
“I just want to thank my sponsor SportPesa for the support," he added after his team also sealed a ticket to the 2019/20 CAF Champions League following their sixth domestic success in the last seven season that extended their all-time domestic record to 18, six ahead of bitter rivals AFC Leopards SC who last tasted success in 1998.
Tusker FC are third in the roll call of Kenyan league wins with 11 and are the last team to beat Gor to the crown when they supplanted them to the throne in 2016.
Gor held their last two coronation ceremonies in their spiritual home of the lakeside city of Kisumu having been handed the 2015 trophy at the MISC Kasarani.
The champions who clinched their latest trophy by reaching 71 points from 32 games, having won 21, drawn seven and lost only four, will play Rangers (31) who need victory to put further distance between them and the drop zone.
MUST READ: The Splash Of Victory: SPL Title-Winning Coach Oktay Bags April's Finest Gong
Separately, the Kenyan Premier League who govern the SPL took to Twitter to urge fans to follow the new Gor handle.
"SPL 2018-19 Champions, Gor Mahia, are back on Twitter, follow them @FCGorMahia," the verified KPL handle posted on Thursday in a drive to bring back the followers of the previous @OfficialGMFC that was deleted on the platform.
They used the same micro blogging site to announce the kick-off of the Rangers versus Gor clash had been moved from 3pm local time (+3GMT) to 4:15pm to give room to as many Green Army supporters as possible to get to Machakos that is located some 70km from the Kenyan capital.
Kerr toast
Last season, Gor played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with 2008 winners Mathare United FC at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu before receiving their trophy after they surrendered a 2-0 lead.
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It was the first domestic success for Turkish Cypriot-born Hassan Oktay who took the K'Ogalo hot seat before the start of the abridged 2018/19 season following the departure of two-time SPL winner, Briton Dylan Kerr who left to coach South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Black Leopards FC.
Kerr was among those who took to Twitter to toast his former team's victory after saving his new side from PSL relegation when they finished 13th on 30 points having arrived when they were rooted at the bottom of the table.
The SPL victory was a glorious end to the season where Gor surrendered the SportPesa Cup after exiting the eight-team regional invitational tournament at the quarterfinal stage when they lost to Tanzanian upstarts Mbao FC on post-match penalties after the two sides sweat to a 1-1 draw in January.
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Having made history by booking their place in the quarterfinals of the 2018/19 second tier CAF Confederations Cup, the most decorated team in Kenya crashed out to Moroccans RS Berkane 7-1 on aggregate after a 0-2 home loss in the first leg was followed up by a 5-1 thumping in the return fixture late March.
Their bid for a domestic double was also ended by SPL runner-ups Bandari FC who edged them 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2018/19 SportPesa Shield but in spite of the setbacks, Oktay galvanised his troops to close out another dominant league triumph.
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Saturday's coronation could be the last chance for the Gor faithful to see the trio of their stars, captain Harun Shakava, record signing and top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge who is also the vice-skipper and Kenya international, Francis Kahata among others run out in the famous green jersey for the last time with their rumoured exit from the club.