Gor Mahia will face AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday hoping to record another victory over their age old rivals.
Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry is calling on the club’s supporters to turn out in force and outnumber AFC Leopards fans at Nyayo Stadium for their upcoming clash on Sunday.
The defending champions were initially set to host the match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos but secured clearance from Sports Kenya to move the fixture to Nyayo.
As anticipation for the derby intensifies, McKinstry is rallying fans from both sides to pack Nyayo Stadium for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
“I want to encourage and rally supporters of both teams and everyone to come out and show up for the game and hopefully we have a good game,” said McKinstry, the league-winning coach.
Highlighting the significance of the Mashemeji derby, McKinstry emphasized, “Mashemeji derby is a huge game not just in Kenya but for East African football.
“We want it to be a colourful day, a full stadium, and we hope it will be a highlight of the season to have good football in front of a huge crowd.”
Gor Mahia will be aiming to maintain their dominant form in the derby, having emerged victorious in 10 of the last 15 meetings against AFC Leopards. In contrast, Leopards have managed just one win, with four matches ending in draws.
“The team will go out and give everything. It’s a big game for the players; they want to do well for supporters and themselves. We will give everything to collect the three points and make sure it’s a good weekend for the supporters,” McKinstry affirmed.
Acknowledging the work ahead for Gor Mahia to achieve their goals, McKinstry pointed out the mixed results leading up to this fixture.
Gor has collected 10 points from a possible 15, while AFC Leopards have garnered 8 points from the same number of matches. Last weekend saw Gor secure a 3-1 victory against bottom-placed Nzoia Sugar, while Leopards edged past Posta Rangers with a 1-0 win.
With the stage set for an electrifying showdown, McKinstry’s rallying cry to Gor Mahia fans sets the tone for what promises to be a memorable Mashemeji derby at Nyayo Stadium.
