Gor Mahia edge Ulinzi
A first half goal by George Odhiambo Blackberry was what Kogalo needed to win a crucial encounter against 3rd placed Ulinzi Warriors on Wednesday. The win confirms Gor Mahia’s return to winning ways. It is a crucial win because aside from narrowing the gap from league leaders Tusker to only two points, it also puts Gor Mahia six points ahead of Ulinzi who are now tied for third place with two other teams. And in a league that is increasingly tight, a win against other contenders is crucial. Gor Mahia also showed that they can grind out wins against teams like Ulinzi that resort to rough play to intimidate opponents.
Additional Reporting courtesy of futaa.com
Both teams came into the game with a win in their previous games and were cautious not to get caught off guard with Blackberry getting himself into the referee’s book after a foul on Cylus Shitote in the 4th minute. Nine minutes later K’ogalo made their first attack of the game when Karim Nizigiyimana ran on the right flank to bring in a well crafted cross that found George Odhiambo who headed it over the bar. With 20 minutes gone, the KPL reigning champions were showing their dominance and they almost took the lead with Amos Nondi doing well to find George Odhiambo whose attempted shot at goal was blocked by Saruni. The game was temporarily halted after Enos Ochieng went down in pain after trying to tackle Abouba Sibomana before Ulinzi got a chance to take the lead after Brian Birgen found Mark Makwatta who saw his shot go into Boniface Oluoch’s gloves.
However, K’ogalo finally found a way to break Ulinzi’s defense when Karim-Abdul Nizigiyimana brought in a dangerous cross from the right that found Tuyisenge who stumbled as he tried to take the shot but George Odhiambo was at the right place at the right time to slot the ball home to make it two goals in two games for himself. Gor almost extended their lead in the 44th minute after Meddie Kagere took a shot at goal which Saruni was forced to push out for a corner, Nondi took it but but Tuyisenge headed it out with Enosh Ochieng getting a yellow card for bad mouthing.
The second half began with both teams attacking and tension began to rise with Tuyisenge being taken out for treatment after being fouled by Hassan Mohammed. On returning to the field, the Rwandese international was booked for kicking the ball after the referee after he was flagged for an offside position. The referee was forced to temporarily halt the game after Omar Mbogi and Meddie Kagere start exchanging harsh words and moments later, Hassan Mohammed got a red card after stepping on Tuyisenge in an off the ball incident. With one- man advantage, Gor started to pin the Soldiers in their own half threatening their defense. Tuyisenge was a victim again in the 65th minute when he went down after being pushed by Ulinzi players in the box as Walusimbi was preparing for a throw in which forced the game to be again temporarily halted as he received treatment.
Nondi was shown a yellow card after a foul on Geoffrey Kokoyo as The Soldiers made a double change; Mark Makwatta out, Stephen Waruru in; Samuel Onyango out, Hamisi Abdalla in and Jose Marcelo Fereirra followed suit; Amos Nondi out, Godfrey Walusimbi in. Ulinzi got a free kick at the edge of the box after Kagere was ruled to have handled the ball, Waruru took but it went to Oluoch’s gloves. Ulinzi had another change; Mark Bikokwa in, Enosh Ochieng out. With ten minutes left to play, Ulinzi began to fight back as they tried to make good use of their chances but Gor Mahia’s defense was proving a hard nut to crack. K’ ogalo then made another change; George Odhiambo out, Baron Oketch in. the hosts almost got a second in the dying minutes when Walusimbi did well to overlap on the right but his well taken chip to find his teammates was well prevented by Saruni.
Gor Mahia Staring XI:
23. Boniface Oluch, 5. Musa Mohamed, 14. Karim Nizigiyimana, 18. Haron Shakava, 3. Abouba Sibomana, 20. Ernest wendo, 8. Francis Kahata, 11. Amos Nondi [2. Godfrey Walusimbi] 22. Meddie Kagere, 25. George Odhiambo [17. Baron Oketch], 9. Jacques Tuyisenge
Unused sub:
1. Jerim Onyango, 4. Wellington Ochieng, 13. Anthony Mbugua, 27. Jacob Keli, 24. Enock Agwanda.
Ulinzi Stars
Starting XI:
James Saruni, Mbogi Omar, Shitote Cylus, Kokoyo Geoffrey, Hassan Mohammed, Onyango Boniface, Brian Birgen, Kago John, Ocheing Enosh [Bikokwa Mark
], Makwatta John [Waruru Stephen], Onyango Samuel [Hamisi Abdalla]
Unused subs:
Odhiambo Jacktone,Sande Benson, Nandwa Elvis, Waweru Daniel
Thanks team kogalo. Even when things are thickest, I have never lost faith in you. It’s never over until it’s over! With patience, persistence and focus we’ll be there team. LET’S KEEP THE FIRE BURNING……
The champions are back. who doubted? I know the enemies of gor mahia who masquerade as fans but keep on commenting negatively and defy gor when needed the most, will come back with hurray complimenting the team for hard work. When the team is down and need them to fill the stadium to buoyed the team, they fizzle away. # teamresults.
Let me do that just now.. Congratulations to Kogallo. I can now plan to come watch the next match.
I left work early enough and rushed to the house to watch the match but Supersport humiliated me. Anybody with a fanatical analysis of the match is hereby requested to brief us, now that admin and futaa.com are busy copying and pasting each other’s reports. Tusker, Western Stima, Mathare, Muhoroni Youth, AFC jackals and Sofapaka… then the trophy will maintain its position in its current cabinet.
let the sceptics now talk
I am one of the people you are referring to but have no apology for you. What we expressed as fans was in order and was based on what was happening then. You are not in the team to know what was happening then and what interventions might have been initiated to rescue Gor boat from sinking. Morover Zimaria earns so much money in order to give good resuls and he has not done us any favor. So give us a break.I will continue pointing out what is of concern to me. Foreign Coaches come all the way not for tourism but for serious business.
The guilty are always afraid, will always run even when nobody is chasing them..
@Jamriambo, that is your opinion and you ere entitled to express it. I owe you no apology please . It may interest you to know that I am not about to stop commenting on Gor Matches. I am also not planning to join the Yes club.
Exactly at Maurice!! They never gave their all to the team. When you read their comments, they were always sceptical. Mara Zi maria is a dummy coach, Mara ooh Mara aah!!! And mind you, this team has only lost twice in the season. People commented here like they don’t understand the character of the champions, gor. The character which Gilbert Selebwa knows well, the ability of gor mahia to come from behind and outrun the front runners just few lapses to the finishing lane. You saw even last Saturday at nyayo, they boycotted the stadium because they don’t have firm faith in a team they pretend to be following.
@sylvaonyi, I comment based on the outcome of each game and other prevailing factors. If you check my post after the Chemelil game, you will see it was positive,same for this one, I applaud team and coach for the vital 3 points. The next time they play a crappy game, my comment will be as crappy. And for your information, I was at Nyayo on Saturday. You?
Okay will go back to stadium
Thank you Ze maria and players for vindicating those of us who never gave up on you. Keep on keeping on.
Some comments are uncalled for and if the team is not performing, fans have right to either attend the matches or stay at home. What bloggers should understand is that fans of Gor Mahia do not want to be associated with mediocre performance. These fans will never be associated with poor performance.
Koko ber samoro, kokono konyo. Lemo ber saate. (hope i got it right). No apologies needed for demanding results and let’s not dare let up on the demands nor the prayers. Demand/pressure and prayers/faith is a potent mix. We’re not out of the woods yet, so keep that champagne on ice and keep on kneeling in prayers. Thx TB and players for getting the results down here and coach Sianga for the intercession up there. I SIGN OFF AS USUAL. TIME HAS COME FOR GMFC’S AGM TO GET A WRITTEN YEARLY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT FROM EACH EC OFFICIAL TO ENSURE THAT 1) GMFC MUST QUALIFY FOR A CONTITNENTAL TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR. 2) GMFC MUST REACH AT LEAST THE SEMI-FINAL OF EVERY CECAFA TOURNAMENT THEY PARTICIPATE IN. 3) GMFC MUST REACH AT LEAST THE GROUP STAGES / 3RD ROUND OF EVERY CONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT THEY PARTICIPATE IN.
Hehehe…MUST ,MUST And MUST ….
If you read it with an open mind you’ll notice that the bar is set quite moderately. Its like am saying you must get 50% in an exam or why would you be taking the exam in the first place, TO FAIL? HEHEHE
The league is going down to the wire! You will need to use calculators .
My faith in ze Maria is not yet restored I give the win to the strength of the players and their love for the jersey ze Maria is clueless in my eyes , he could be a class F coach
Still doubting thz zemaria coach.!. hwever congrat team kogallo.
Continue doubting. I read from Ambani that the coach is just one of the reasons a team wins or loses. There are so many other factors
I read somewhere Musa saying he credits the win from the coach giving them ‘room to play our own game’.Although am told players in this game should be innovative and not just copy to the latter the coach tactics.
Ze Mario Salutes Ulinzi who fought like soldiers that thgey are…..ran and attacked like real soldiers. And that is real football, well, Ze Maria plan better for next opponents because they don’t believe in winning but holdind Ko’ogalloo. That is what they plan all year long, they can loose points to all teams but when it comes to Nyam nyam, they will park the BUSES and sit .
Kagere and Tuyisenge cannot play in the same team. Blackberry Should be relegated to the bench. Karim should be rested. Bonny take part in sportpesa bet. Ze Maria is clueless. EC are eating our money. Guys lets us relax and review the team performance at the end of the season. Only 6 games to go. Congrats the below par team. Congrats the clueless coach.
I am never worried about nothing at Gor Mahia. For God and my beloved club – Kogallo.
Nyinyi maboys ya Kogalo. Why is throwing wards. Watu ingine natafutana hapa. Sisi watu ya muro lep si najua we naisi leo. Wachananaeni na silizoshapita. Sisi sa i nafurahi gor nashachapa mutu.Apana weka vitu nyingi kwa roho. Tho luro. Otherwse tibim.