The rivalry between Kenya’s two biggest football clubs, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, stretches from the 1960s.
Fixtures between the two clubs are the biggest and most attended in the country, with bragging rights intensely contested amidst the noisy demand for victory from either set of supporters.
Though rare, such transfers have continued to occur, with the latest being Friday’s announcement by Gor that it had acquired the services of goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi from Leopards.
Katasi, who served as “Ingwe’s” first choice goalkeeper last season, signed a two-year-contract with “K’Ogalo”.
“To me the move from Leopards to Gor is growth,” said Katasi after signing his contract with Gor on Friday.
“It is a higher platform which has come at the right time. Playing at the international level (CAF Champions League) means a lot to me and the growth of my career because I have wished for it for a long time.”
While Katasi has described his transfer to Gor as a significant step in his football career, it has elicited a lot of reaction among the fans. Gor’s supporters have thrown jibes at their Leopards rivals over the move.
For several days, speculation was rife on social media over the whereabouts of Katasi after reports emerged that he had left the den for K’Ogalo.
A section of fans, who had become weary of the delays by K’Ogalo to announce the signing of the goalkeeper, started pushing the phrase “Where is Katasi?” online.
Goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi (right) signs his contract as new Gor Mahia player on July 17, 2026. He is flanked by club chairman Ambrose Rachier.
Photo credit: Pool
The answer to the question finally came on Friday morning with Gor releasing a 19-second teasing video on their social media handles of the goalkeeper in K’Ogalo’s colours holding a ball.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we finally located him and this is how it gets down,” the video caption reads.
Come Friday evening, K’Ogalo released several longer videos of the goalkeeper, including one where Katasi is all smiles while signing his contract with the club.
“They swore they would only let their players leave for greener pastures outside the country. Well, let that sink in... so, what exactly is Katasi if not the GREENEST grass of all?’’ Posed Gor on X.
“Where is Katasi and finally the answer is Katasi is a Gor Mahia player,” Wuod Grace Ochieng commented on Facebook.
Not fair,” lamented Ongoro AG Vincent.
Katasi started his goalkeeping journey at Limuru Youth Sports Association before joining Aspire Academy in 2013. The St Anthony’s High School Kitale alumni joined Nzoia Sugar for three seasons where he won the 2022/23 FKF-PL Golden Gloves after managing 17 clean sheets.
He joins the list of players who have crossed over from the den to Gor in recent years. In August last year, Gor poached Leopards defender Lewis Bandi on a two-year-contract.
Leopards followers greeted the transfer with dismay. The impressive Bandi was then serving as Leopards’ assistant captain.
In October 2021, attacking midfielder Austine Odhiambo ditched Leopards for Gor. Odhiambo went on to become one of the most outstanding players not only for Gor but in the league.
He was on target in Gor’s 1-0 win over Leopards in the “Mashemeji” Derby on April 21, 2024. Odhiambo now plies his trade with Lebanese side Nejmeh SC.
