Shabana seek to upset league holders Gor Mahia
Gor Mahia's Rooney Onyango leads teammates in celebrating his goal against Shabana FC during FKF Premier League match match on November 1, 2023 at Kasarani in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- Before the Bidco loss, Gor had been on a three-match winning streak.
- In contrast, Shabana will look to build on their recent improvement.
It will be a titanic battle in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF-PL) midweek fixtures as Gor Mahia host Shabana, while AFC Leopards take on Tusker Wednesday.
Defending champions Gor Mahia will play Shabana at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, while 12-time champions Leopards face Tusker at Dandora Stadium in Nairobi. Wednesday's seven matches mark the 13th round as the league nears its midway point, with only four matches left in the first half of the season.
Gor Mahia are aiming to bounce back after a shocking 1-0 defeat to Bidco United in their last match, which turned chaotic with the fans baying for referee Kelvin Maina's blood. Before the Bidco loss, Gor had been on a three-match winning streak.
In contrast, Shabana, who defeated Posta Rangers 2-0 in their midweek fixture, will look to build on their recent improvement.
Last season, Gor won both legs of their encounter with identical 1-0 scorelines. Gor Mahia sit fourth on the league standings with 17 points from 10 matches, while Shabana are eighth with 16 points from 12 games.
Shabana started the season poorly, which led to the exit of coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo, but the team has since found its rhythm. Fans of both teams are expected to show up in large numbers, eager to see how Gor’s coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, will respond to the Bidco loss.
Meanwhile, AFC Leopards face Tusker in a match that has historically been unpredictable. Under youthful coach Fred Ambani, Ingwe have struggled against Tusker, failing to secure a win in their last five meetings. Their last victory against the Brewers came on September 26, 2021.
Tusker are in fine form, occupying second place with 21 points from 11 matches. Forward Rayan Ogam, the league’s top scorer with 10 goals, will be a key threat to Leopards’ defence.
Ogam has his eyes on the Golden Boot and is determined to surpass the 19 goals scored by Benson Omala for Gor Mahia last season.
Leopards, currently ninth with 15 points from 11 matches, drew 1-1 with Kakamega Homeboyz in their last outing. Beating Tusker could boost their league position and restore confidence.
