NAIROBI, Kenya, September 9- It’s back to the good old days of Kenyan football as Ivan Anguyo lifted Gor Mahia on Sunday to take his side to within three points of Tusker Premier League (TPL) leaders and archrivals AFC Leopards.
His header, eight minutes from time handed K’Ogalo a priceless 1-0 win at their City Stadium citadel and for the first time in over a decade and a half, the league table resembles the era when the most supported clubs in the nation traded league titles.
After the final whistle of what was a cagey encounter, the Green Army fans caused a major traffic snarl-up in the streets of Nairobi as they launched frenzied celebrations that echoed their glory days.
With thousands of fans crammed inside the stadium and hundreds more filling the over pass bridge located near the stadium growing restless as Sony’s dogged defence, the Ugandan match winner rose over the rearguard to send a bullet header home from a Moses Odhiambo corner to invite pandemonium.
K’Ogalo who watched with relish as archrivals Leopards and champions Tusker played out a barren stalemate on Friday night are now on the coattails of the league leaders with the table reading 46 to 43 points in favour of Ingwe.
Their September 23 derby will resume the clashes of yore where the winner will no doubt have one hand on the big eared TPL trophy provided Leopards do not leak points in their trip to face Western Stima on Saturday.
The last Gor captain to lift the league trophy, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno in 1995 sitting as the head coach of Sony was determined to hold on to this honour as he sent the sugar millers out to mount an impressive rearguard action to strangle his former side.
K’Ogalo’s feared forward duo of Rama Salim and striker Dan Sserunkuma were fended off in imperious fashion with Collins Odour in the Sony goal acting as a last frontier of resistant.
Gor’s Croat coach Zradvko Logarusic hauled off midfielder Joseph Njunguna who was struggling on his return from injury with Kevin Omondi introduced but it was Sony who threatened when Enock Agwanda on 36 minutes but his finish sailed wide.
Logarusic threw the kitchen sink as the second half progressed in the shape of Edwin Lavatsa who sunk 2010 champions Ulinzi at the same venue last week but it was Anguyo who became the unlikely hero when he fashioned the crucial goal.
For Zico who almost led Gor to the title two seasons ago as head coach, the loss felt unmerited as his side remain stuck mid-table but the momentum is surely with Gor with six fixtures left to the end.
