Gor Mahia and Al-Hilal have a history going back decades

Following a successful tour of Ethiopia, Gor Mahia are set to proceed to Sudan to play additional build up matches.

“We have been invited to play two high profile friendly matches against Al Hilal and Al Khartoum. We are leaving tonight and our first match will be on Wednesday and the second one most probably on Saturday,” said Jolawi Obondo to the club site.

The two teams finished second and fourth respectively in the recently concluded Sudanese league.

The club will however have to cope with the fact that a number of players are still missing.

“Like St. George, Al Hilal and Al Khartoum are the type of teams that I want to play in preparation for the season ahead. Unfortunately, some players are still missing,” said coach Frank Nuttall

Al Hilal in particular will be a stern test for Gor Mahia. They have reached the group stage of the Africa Champions league six times in the last 10 years.  Of those six, they have proceeded to the semi-final stage four times.

Yet there was a time when Gor Mahia used to beat Al-Hilal regularly. During the 1984 CECAFA club cup, Gor Mahia shredded Al Hilal 3-0 in Nairobi with Hezborn Omollo leading the way with two goals.

In 1985, Gor Mahia would meet Al Hilal again in the CECAFA club cup. This time Al Hilal were the hosts but Gor Mahia emerged victorious winning 3-1 despite missing six key players via suspension. Gor Mahia went on to win the 1985 CECAFA club cup.

The two sides met again in the Africa champions league in 1992. It was the quarter-finals. Interestingly, this is the furthest that Gor Mahia have gone in Africa’s premier competition. Gor Mahia won the opening leg 2-0 but lost 0-2 in the return leg. The match went to penalties which Al-Hilal won 4-2. In goal for Gor Mahia was Joseph Asembo who was an excellent goalkeeper but had no luck when it came to penalties. Al Hilal went on to eliminate Ismaily of Egypt before losing tp Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the final.