DSTV Super cup to be played at Mbaraki
The first competitive match of the 2016 season will be the DSTV Super cup match pitting league champions Gor Mahia against GoTV shield winners Bandari FC of Mombasa. The match is on Saturday at Mbaraki sports club. This is the match that most pundits had anticipated to be the GoTV final least season, only for Gor Mahia to fall unexpectedly in the semis to Nakumatt.
Bandari were sensational last season. They finished fourth in the league, which is their best standing ever then went on to dispatch Nakumatt in clinical fashion in the GoTV shield final. With the CAF Confederation cup looming, coach Twahir Muhiddin has strengthened his side. In comes former Gor Mahia stalwarts Dan Sserunkuma, fresh from his stint playing in Armenia. Whether he is still as sharp as he was in 2014 is unknown. His stints in Tanzania and Armenia have not been succesful. But coach Frank Nuttall will be well aware of the danger he presents. Another former player Gor Mahia will have to contend with is Edwin Lavatsa. The lanky former Gor Mahia striker has battled injuries that ended his sojourn in the Algerian league. Bandari have also signed Felly Mulumba, Edwin Wafula and Bernard Mangoli from AFC Leopards whom coach Muhiddin is very excited about.
“I am happy to have acquired the services of Bernard Mang’oli, he is an intelligent player who will improve us. He is technically gifted”
Bandari have played three friendlies so far and have been unimpressive. They were in Nairobi and left undefeated after playing three matches. They drew 2-2 with Posta Rangers and 1-1 with Thika United. The coastal boys registered a 1-0 win over Wazito at Ruaraka grounds. But coach Muhiddin is unperturbed.
“We’ve prepared well for the Gor match. After a one-week high altitude training at Ngong, my players are physically fit and ready to face any team in and outside the country,” said Muhiddin to the Nation.
Gor Mahia for their part have played to the level of the competition. They did well to beat Ethiopian giants St George and Sudan giants Al Hilal. But they also lost to Bondo United and were forced to a draw by Western Stima. One would expect Gor Mahia to rise to the occassion against Bandari.
Gor Mahia Vice Chair David Kilo expressed misgivings about the venue.
“It was not a good decision to take the matches to Mombasa, remember both teams have been in Nairobi, training for continental assignments so Nairobi would have been the best place. We tried to raise the same with the organizers but they were adamant the match should be played in Mombasa, they were not ready to hear us,” he said to goal.com
Supersport have poured Ksh 3 Million into the match. The winner takes home Ksh 750,000 with the runner up taking Ksh 500,000.
Shades of 1986
The last time these two teams met in a Cup final is likely in 1986. On that occasion, they met in the final of the Moi Golden cup which is equivalent to today’s GoTV shield. Bandari under coach Mohamed Kheri were at the time in the second tier league and had shocked everyone by reaching the cup final. Gor Mahia for their part needed a trophy to salvage their season and qualify for the 1987 Africa cup winners cup.
Bandari with players like Ricky Solomon “Tolle”, Albert Oyoo “Wazimu”, Ali Jeneby, and Charles Okeyo put on a spirited fight. Gor Mahia won 1-0 with a late goal by Hezborn Omollo. This would earn them a ticket to the 1987 Africa cup which they went on to win, thus making history by becoming the first team in the CECAFA region to win a continental tournament.
Mbaraki aint the best ground for a season opener,however let the boys rise to the occasion & prove the pundits wrong by beating Bandari within regulation time.Gattuso,Aucho,Kahata & Walusimbi neutralizing bandari midfield from supplying Lavatsa,Sserenkuma & Abege as Tuyisenge,Agwanda & Keli attack Bandari goal like Alshaabab operatives bombing World Trade Centre in the US.
@Kibogo…was that last part really necessary?
Oswozo,that last part wasnt meant to offend anybody least of all you an ardent K’Ogalo fan.I only intended to emphasize the ferrociousness of the attack Gor forward line need to apply.Pole lakini.
After watching the Rwanda Chan2016 it is amazing what the Rwandesse govt have done. It is shameful that this Ouru govt could build even one stadia. Governor Joho must also share the blame. Why can’t he at least emulate what Governor Mutua did with Machakos stadium.
My perception is that Bandari will be eliminated in the Africa scene rather to quickly. There game is influenced by the bad Mombasa stadiums . The few training sessions they have done in Nairobi will not be enough.
Bandari are taking this game very very seriously. I have been monitoring their training and I tell you they are living nothing to chance. Even as of today they were at Mbaraki and on with training from as early as 6.30 a.m and were still training by 10 a.m.
Olunga Michael karibu nyumbani sometime u have sometime u don’t have is sad u were unsuccessful in trials but God knows why. Just come back head high n finish education first no team out there will accept baggage. U can try n work hard gormahia will give u improved offer please don’t loose hope that’s is how life is
What Olunga and Cheche could have done was to have local contracts just in case something goes wrong abroad. Unfortunately the agents mislead these boys. Now Bageya, Cheche and Olunga could be out for a whole six months, or sign for Nakumatt, Zoo etc or alternatively go for anyone that needs their sevices anywhere. So sad but as Gor fans we said that this could happen
Olunga is still attending trials. They have not released him. I hope he makes it.
First off Kogalo has many strikers. Enock Agwanda should be given the chance to finally blossom.
Secondly, Harambee stars needs more players in Europe.
How unfortunate, anyway thats life
Oduor 12, where are you?
The Ec at it again…firing the coach cox he refused 50% salary cut!Who does that especialy now with the sponsor.Where do they want to take all the money they are bound to receive just like last season.More so now where 90% of the cost is met by the sponsor.I smell a rat..a big rat here cox ya TAMAA and impunity otherwise if i was FN i would join the list of pple suing GM..
I ask; which mad man has sacked Nuttal?
Very sad indeed if the coach is fired by Rachier and his cohorts. How can excellent performance be rewarded with paycut and sacking?
Rachier and his cohorts have also fired themselves and this is what poor leadership produces. Let us all stand firm and have the coach be reinstated as his performance is beyond the mediocre performance of the local coaches. If indeed there are differences, such differences should be handle with sobriety as the timing of firing the coach is very wrong and misplaced. I can see fire emanating from fans and Rachier and his team should prepare for serious ramifications that will see them being kicked out.
We now have the sponsor and salary of the coach should even be reviewed upward as good performance should be rewarded with substantial increment and bonuses.
I am indeed gutted by this action of firing the best coach that made the team won the league unbeaten with very mearger resources. The timing is very wrong at this moment when we are preparing to defend the KPL league and launch campaign in the champion league.
The bloated EC skeamed this. The best coach in East and Central African fired? What a crap. Rachier and his Ali Baba thieves, luhkwere
I call on all of you bloggers to pen down something for Rachier & his Ec members.We need Nuttal in Gor more than we need EC members.With one voice,let the coach stay or else wajitayarishe kupambana na fans sooner than they think.
#bring back Nuttall
If at all Olunga is unsuccessful will he come to Gor since his name is with CAF?.My second If-If Nutall is sacked (madness) how should we tell the Gor leadership that it is such a crazy idea?
The differences have reached unreconciliable levels n the best decision is for coach nutall to move on n never comeback coz this guys might do something bad to him if he insists to stay they can even poison him. Let coach ask for his dues n go higher grounds. Now with money in gor n little brains in gor they will fall fast
#bring back Nuttal
haki i’m shocked & brocken if we’ve maintained Nuttal all this long’ without a sponsor,now that we hav one,u sack the best coach for finance issues not bad result……..now,God give somebody telescope vision
in that office…no gratitude at all,have slept asad man.