Gor Mahia 0 Bandari 0
courtesy of goal.com
Bandari halted Gor Mahia’s march towards a successive Kenyan Premier League title after forcing a draw that leaves Sofapaka two points behind
Gor Mahia lost an opportunity of going four points clear at the top of Kenyan Premier League log after being held to a barren draw by visiting Bandari in a mid-week match played at City Stadium on Wednesday.
The draw means Sofapaka remain on toes as the champions and league leaders now enjoy a two point cushion. Sofapaka remain second on 46 while Gor Mahia moves to 48 points.
Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall blamed Bandari for opting to play a more defensive game than attacking. “We created our chances but in most occasions our opponents were defending in numbers.
“It becomes very difficult when playing against a team that already as mind set on defending. We did our best and furthermore, we had a clean goal disallowed. I am yet to find out why the goal was ruled out because from where I was sited that was a clean goal.”
On the title challenge, Nuttall, who has won once since replacing Bobby Williamson said, “We are on top of the log and that shows you how difficult it has become to navigate the league.
“We are not underrating any team at the moment and will continue to fight. We have the title in sight but what matters is how we respond to today’s result and our performance in remaining matches.”
Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin refuted Nuttall’s claims and insisted that they were the better side in the fixture and derserved to bag maximum points. “We deserved to win because our tactics worked against Gor Mahia.
“We knew they were playing at home and needed to score goals but we also had our game plan which worked very well. We attacked them and missed several scoring chances especially in second period. We are satisfied with a point because it keeps us going as we strive to escape relegation.”
The major argument in the match came in 28th minute when Gor Mahia found the back of the net through Ugandan Goddfrey Walusimbi but the goal was flagged offside.
However, television replays showed that Walusimbi was onside when he latched onto the ball to score and this leaves officiating in Kenyan Premier League on spot again.
Gor Mahia started the match on a high note with coach Nuttall deciding to retain same squad that had won in last league assignment and Ugandan Dan Sserunkuma and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo continued with their impressive partnership.
Ssserunkuma had two opening chances but squandered and Walusimbi followed him up with another fluffed chance from a free-kick.
A third draw in four games for kogallo means the title will be decided on the last day however whoever wins between gor mahia and sofapaka on 26th October 2014 will have one hand on the title!
For me I remain “realistic” , the boys have tried this season, really tried with everything that has been thrown at them, may be they deserve the title, I don’t know !!!!!
Have a realistic day bloggers.
Gor Mahia Will finish third behind Tusker and sofapaka, Gor cannot keep with pace, am vert disapointed with This draw
If we cannot unlock a packed Bandari defence now, je, zamalek,Al Haly, El Meriek? Lets get the Maths right. all the extra mach advantages we had are gone.
To my fellows fans,lets keep fire burning coz all is not lost,better a point than nothing.And am sure even tusker & sofapaka will find it difficult in their coming matches.We have gone through alot this season & at this stage no giving up till the end.All the best Gor Sirkal.
Guys as it is all signs still point to us reclaiming the title. We will falter on the ‘ easier’ games but win the ‘harder’ ones.as it is we will win by at least 3 points above tusker and sofa will be third. It will be tough but we will triumph when we play Muhoroni at ksm
I thought the ban on night games had been lifted, why are the midweek matches still being played as early as 4pm thereby locking out several fans and consequently denying Gor the much deserved revenue?
That aside the boys looked fatigued or tired. I can only attribute this to either over indulgence resulting from the celebration after beating Chemelil or the same players being played over and over for lack of depth or fear of the unknown. Why is Kopany permanently on the bench? Can’t he even be loaned to a third tier team for the sake of play time mr. Coach.?
What became of the registration exercise? Did we meet the target or someone collected enough n took off like The infamous Dick Berg of the All African games of yore? What of 35100?is it still on? If not are we upto date with players allowances? Someone please answer me!
So where are those who comment on referees,what was that about the goal scored by Walusimbi,why deny Kogalo such a gunuine goal? Lets leave it at that but it was very annoying.Our remaining games leaves us as firm
favorites if we keep the faith,the foot on the gas pedal.Jerry kept us in the game and gave us the one point,keep it up everybody.
On a very disappointing note, please please Russians do not throw things on the pitch,remember what caused the death of the Cameroonian player in Algeria? The club has now been banned by FIFA.You will be provoked as we move on but lets keep the peace all the time.
Ooh Laa la..!! “IT’S NOT YET OVER AND THE FIGHT CONTINUES”
@Arango and @collins you seem to have no confidence at all with the team. May i ask if Gor was that bad then why are they still at the top of the table? I did mention that TPL 2014 is too close to call the shots at this juncture and no team will be able to breakaway comfortably from the rest of title contenders.
It is only Gor Mahia who are still enjoying the advantage of two points cushion and the best they can achieve is to widen the gap to six points with their close competitor if we can beat CITY STARS in our next assignment; otherwise it is truly going down to the wire with two replica trophies at CITY STADIUM (GOR Vs KRA) and NYAYO STADIUM (TUSKER Vs SOFAPAKA).
The current Gor Mahia squad is not competing with African giants but in the TPL and if TUSKER and SOFAPAKA were any better then by now they should have been run away league leaders.
OK let us also today “WAIT & SEE” how TUSKER squares with ULINZI.
The boys did their best. Bandari came for a draw and indeed they got it courtesy of the referee Osano. All in all the team is good and can only be better with time. Playing 4 matches in 10 days without losing is not an easy task. The team deserves a short break now before the next fixture.
For God and my beloved club – Kogallo
Arango you loose control ! look at the the fixtures of remaining games for the top 3 teams and their opponents , then you can make the judgment , most likely sopafaka will slide and tusker cant catch up with us unless we loose 3 games in a row !believe me you we will retain the Title ! bye Bloogers!
OFFSIDE RULE
Law 11 wording has not changed. All that has happened is that the advice and interpretation has changed on interfering with an opponent from ” making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent” to ”challenging an opponent for the ball”. That is a much easier interpretation.
So a player in an offside position where the ball has been played by one of his team mates may not challenge a defender for the ball. It is left to the referee to decide what is meant by a ”challenge’ and also to decide when the defender has gained unfettered control and possession of the ball in which case offside consideration has then passed.
Remember that being in an offside position is not an offence. The player has to do something more. Pressure can mean many things and in the past it could mean a gesture or movement. If pressure by the player in offside position is a challenge on an opponent then that is interfering with an opponent and offside. If pressure is moving towards the defender from a distance who hurries up and misplays the ball that is not a challenge and as a result there is no offside under the new interpretation.
That though must not be confused by a rebound or deflection off an opponent which remains unchanged in ”gaining an advantage by being in that position”. If the ball rebounds or deflects as opposed to plays the ball then offside consideration will remain on the player in an offside position.
what we as Gor fans shud know is that the league is @ crucial stage & the likes of Salim(former ulinzi coach) r not happy with us as evident with his comment in playback & whenever Gor is playing. Those who r like him will do whatever it takes to deny Gor any win by bribing any match official officiating gor matches. & I think the denied goal is a case in point.This was a pure match fixing in favor of one of the Gor chalengers. I have no evidence but thats what happened bcos Bandari did not come to win.
THE ‘REALITY CHECK ‘
GAMES ARE COMING HARD, WHO WILL WIN THE LEAGUE ..
1. GOR MAHIA LAST 5 GAMES
City Stars – fighting relegation, Mathare United -fighting for top 8, Sofapaka -fighting for the title, Muhoroni Youth – fancy top eight finish , KRA – fancy top eight finish.
2 . SOFAPAKA LAST 5 GAMES
SoNy Sugar -top 8 target, KRA – top 8 target , Gor Mahia – retain the title , AFC leopards – top 8 will be respectable, Tusker – fighting for the title
3 .TUSKER LAST 5 GAMES
Mathare – top 8 target, Muhoroni -fancy top 8 finish, KRA -fancy top 8 finish, Thika – top 8 material, Sofapaka – earning the title.
THE MORE YOU PLAY TEAMS THAT HAVE ‘SOMETHING’ TO LOOSE THEY MORE THEY WILL COME TO YOU WITH THE ‘PACK THE BUS’ MENTALITY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SCORE……SO ? WHOEVER WINS THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON WILL BE THE TEAM WITH THE BEST TACTICAL COACH ………mmmmmmmh I bet you can guess who that is ???????????
Now that puts things in context.
Gor can say they are likely to win 3 of the 5 matches because they are against sides weaker than they are, while Sofapaka can look at only two in the same sequence.
This means that Sofapaka really have to outdo themselves to win it, including beating Gor along the way.
Likely, unlikely?
We really do not know and cannot tell but purely on paper and the form both teams have had this year, I would go with Gor.
Exciting times lie ahead.
THE ‘REALITY ‘ PUZZLE
1. GOR MAHIA LAST 5 GAMES
City Stars -fighting releagation, Mathare United – gunning top eight finish, Sofapaka – winning the title a reality , Muhoroni Youth – best season in decades can do top 8 , KRA – wants to finish top 8
2. SOFAPAKA LAST 5 GAMES
SoNy Sugar – top 8 material, KRA -wants top 8 in league debut, Gor Mahia – title contenders , AFC leopards – top 8 will be respectable , Tusker – title contenders
3. TUSKER LAST 5 GAMES
Mathare – top 8 target, Muhororoni – dying for top 8, KRA – top 8 dream , Thika – top 8 material and Sofapaka -title contenders.
THE REALITY OF FOOTBALL IS THAT TEAMS THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOSE WILL DEFINTALEY COME TO YOU WITH A ‘PACKED BUS’ MENTALITY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SCORE.
ALL THE THREE TITLE CONTENDERS FACE EQUAL SCENARIOS THEREFORE THE TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON IS MOST LIKELY TO BE THE COACH WITH THE BEST TACTICS ? !!! YES, BEST TACTICS , I REPEAT, BEST TACTICS !!! Mmmmmmmmmmh……..I BET YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS !!!
Now that puts things in context.
Gor can say they are likely to win 3 of the 5 matches because they are against sides weaker than they are, while Sofapaka can look at only two in the same sequence.
This means that Sofapaka really have to outdo themselves to win it, including beating Gor along the way.
Likely, unlikely?
We really do not know and cannot tell but purely on paper and the form both teams have had this year, I would go with Gor.
Exciting times lie ahead.
With all the tribulations Gor Mahia has faced this year, it would be very refreshing for the club to overcome and win the title. Fans to remain loyal and support the players. 350100 bado iko.
The team that wins this year TPL trophy will bag only 57 points.
We drew with Bandari simply because each and every player wanted to score and sserenkuma was struggling to get the ball to score also no body was passing ball to him they were passing balls to sserenkuma when already marked by defenders. if this cannot be rectified immediately then draws will continue coz Sserenkuma is only one with luck to score goals
General fitness of eric ochieng is wanting and i wonder why the coach is fielding him i knew this will cost the team coz it will overally affect the fitness of entire team and bring complacent.
It is high time David Owino calabar be a striker n partner with sserenkuma, since we currently have good defenders in reference of Ulinzi game. IF WALUSIMBI has done it why can we give Owino a chance
Jokanyanam are very fond of sugar coating things, consoling themselves and taking pride in very little successes. Did you know that the little the team that you are facing in the home stretch/ last games of the season the more likely that the bigger team will loose coz so many things are at stake for the small team. Look what Bandari has done Gor and all you can say here is that Gor will win coz it has ‘small teams’ in its next fixtures. Gor has let its matches at hand go in smoke and now is the time that the players should be told that they must put their right leg forward and win all the remaining games. Tusker FC are very dangerous when they smell the title. If you want to beat Tusker in the league then you don’t wait for the last game because they will win and you will loose, In EPL if Man U or Man City are leading towards the end of the season, don’t expect them to tumble, no they wont and so you must beat them at early stages. If we cant call a spade a spade then I see Gor crying like they did in 2012 season when they drew with Thika united in the last game and that’s they handed to the trophy to tusker Fc
with God everything is possible.go kogallo go.
With Tusker losing today at Ulinzi the league is getting tighter and tighter. Soon it might be a two-horse race. The problem is that the hatred the top teams have for gor they can easily connived to knock us out of the race. We therefore gave to win our games to deny them any chance
Dan Original@19
Why in your opinion do you think people hate Gor so much?is it envy because we have the largest fan base in Kenya?or because we are a big brand?or is it because our fans ooze class?what is it really??
We just need to beat City stars,muhoroni and KRA.THREE WINSand the league is ours.
that point was okay, very okay considering the circumstances, there is nothing known as a small team in the league, neither is there a easy points.