Gor Mahia players applaud their supporters after the SPL second leg Mashemeji Derby match was called off. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, December 18 – Unbeaten SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia will clash with bitter rivals AFC Leopards in a friendly Mashemeji Derby at Saturday’s MK Cup in Gatundu, Kiambu County.
Gor assistant secretary General, Ronald Ngala told Capital Sport they will send a strong team after blending the seniors and their development side to compete in the one day tournament organised by Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria.
K’Ogalo will feature in another parallel tournament this weekend after they were invited to mark 114th anniversary at the spiritual home of their supporters.
“We will participate in both and have merged the senior team and the Under 19s to send strong teams. I’m not aware if AFC Leopards are also invited but if they are, we will play them, we have no objection,” Ngala told Capital Sport.
The giants will be meeting for a third time this season after the second leg league encounter between the two aborted after chaos erupted before Gor were awarded maximum points on review.
Kuria says the event is a peace drive for his constituents and is delighted the local titans have confirmed participation.
“Gor Mahia versus AFC Leopards is a big match but the most important thing is that the two coming together for this event in Gatundu underscores the important role football can play in fostering peace among different communities in our great country because national cohesion is a duty we must undertake seriously.
“I’m not underrating the fact that in football; there can be upsets but the fact that the giants are coming with their main squads, including Footballer of the Year, Michael Olunga and others, should be obvious that it will be big,” Kuria declared.
“It will be very interesting to see the people of Gatundu split loyalty supporting their preferred choice between two of Kenya’s greatest clubs and of course it is worthy entertainment for us all,” the legislator added.
Kuria was involved in fund raising exercises of the clubs to fulfill their SPL (Leopards) and Cecafa Kagame Cup (Gor) obligations in a season they struggled for lack of title sponsors.
Leopards will be the first to take to the pitch against Gatundu Combined A with Gor entertaining Gatundu Combined B in the second match before the titans lock horns at 5pm.
Saturday matches will mark the opening of the inaugural MK Cup, “It will be the beginning of an exciting tournament that will run for several weeks and we shall be rewarding winners with exciting cash prizes as well as trip his in a bid to help unlock the full potential of grassroots football.”
