Gor Mahia supporters paint Kisumu City green

KISUMU, KENYA: Gor Mahia fans arrived in Kisumu in style as convoy of hired buses ferried loyal  followers from Nairobi and other parts of the country to the Lake Side City, venue of today’s match with Ushuru.

The Green Army followers who never shy from showing their total support and loyalty to the club missed no chance to exude confidence that they were going to retain the Kenya Premier League title.

Business in the city was temporarily halted as the fans painted the town green causing a huge traffic snarl up as they marched from the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground to the Moi Stadium singing and chanting.

Titus Omondi, a fan who travelled from Huruma in Nairobi, confessed of having attended all K'ogallo fixtures this season therefore he could not miss the final match.

"We will follow Gor Mahia to every part of this country, even if the venue is to be changed to Kapedo we will still go," said Omondi.

Some of them walked in groups in different city streets singing praise songs, and blowing vuvuzelas in front of shops

However not all of them came to only attend the match, some took advantage of the situation to do business. Various items were on sale; branded t-shirts, caps, hats, jerseys and vuvuzelas.

The fans from 'diaspora' as they call themselves joined the local Kisumu fans and they chanted songs of praise to their team Gor Mahia.

Despite the large number of fans that visited the city, a visit to most hotels in Kisumu's Central Business District revealed to Feverpitch that there were not so many reservations, in fact business was normal

A section of the fans however countered that by saying they did not come to Kisumu to sleep or rest.

The 2014 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season is headed to a dramatic end today, where for the second time in three years, the winner will be decided on the last day of competition.

Defending champions Gor Mahia and Sofapaka are in a neck to neck fight for the title and both will be hoping to win their matches and pray that the other loses to be crowned champions.

Gor play Ushuru at Moi Stadium Kisumu while Sofapaka take on Tusker at Ruaraka Stadium.

For Gor fans, the end of the 2014 season must stir up memories of the 2012 season.

Then they needed to beat Thika United on the last day to be crowned champions but instead drew 1-1 to allow Tusker who beat Nairobi City Stars to run away with title.

Will history repeat itself? Gor captain Jerim Onyango doesn’t think so insisting the two scenarios are different.

“Everybody is talking about what happened in 2012 yet that remains history. They should also talk about last year when we won the title. 2012 miss is what motivated us to win the title one year later,” he told Fever Pitch.

“The team has worked hard and our fans have walked with us in good and bad times, the only way to repay them is by winning the league. Nothing else will suffice. “Something else that remains a major motivation is possibility of winning the title back to back. We all want it and are going for nothing less,” Onyango said.

Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta admits this is a big moment for himself and the players and has vowed to ‘put their all’.

“This is the kind of match that builds your career as a coach and we are going for nothing less than a win away,” he said.

Kenyatta must find a way to motivate his players who have registered nine match losing streak and will be keen to end well.

Perhaps having the trophy at Ruaraka Stadium will motivate Sofapaka players to give it their all as they take on Tusker hoping that Gor falters in Kisumu.

Batoto ba Mungu have done everything to reach where they are and winning the title only for the second time will be a good way to wrap up the season.

The team is still in contention to win GOtv Shield pitting them in sight for a possible double this season and what a way it would be to end the season?

After a disappointing end to the season, Tusker who are out of contention for title, are keen to finish in third position and will be no push-overs against their opponents.

 

 

 

KISUMU, KENYA: Gor Mahia fans arrived in Kisumu in style as convoy of hired buses ferried loyal  followers from Nairobi and other parts of the country to the Lake Side City, venue of today’s match with Ushuru.

The Green Army followers who never shy from showing their total support and loyalty to the club missed no chance to exude confidence that they were going to retain the Kenya Premier League title.

Business in the city was temporarily halted as the fans painted the town green causing a huge traffic snarl up as they marched from the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground to the Moi Stadium singing and chanting.

Titus Omondi, a fan who travelled from Huruma in Nairobi, confessed of having attended all K'ogallo fixtures this season therefore he could not miss the final match.

"We will follow Gor Mahia to every part of this country, even if the venue is to be changed to Kapedo we will still go," said Omondi.

Some of them walked in groups in different city streets singing praise songs, and blowing vuvuzelas in front of shops

However not all of them came to only attend the match, some took advantage of the situation to do business. Various items were on sale; branded t-shirts, caps, hats, jerseys and vuvuzelas.

The fans from 'diaspora' as they call themselves joined the local Kisumu fans and they chanted songs of praise to their team Gor Mahia.

Despite the large number of fans that visited the city, a visit to most hotels in Kisumu's Central Business District revealed to Feverpitch that there were not so many reservations, in fact business was normal

A section of the fans however countered that by saying they did not come to Kisumu to sleep or rest.

The 2014 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season is headed to a dramatic end today, where for the second time in three years, the winner will be decided on the last day of competition.

Defending champions Gor Mahia and Sofapaka are in a neck to neck fight for the title and both will be hoping to win their matches and pray that the other loses to be crowned champions.

Gor play Ushuru at Moi Stadium Kisumu while Sofapaka take on Tusker at Ruaraka Stadium.

For Gor fans, the end of the 2014 season must stir up memories of the 2012 season.

Then they needed to beat Thika United on the last day to be crowned champions but instead drew 1-1 to allow Tusker who beat Nairobi City Stars to run away with title.

Will history repeat itself? Gor captain Jerim Onyango doesn’t think so insisting the two scenarios are different.

“Everybody is talking about what happened in 2012 yet that remains history. They should also talk about last year when we won the title. 2012 miss is what motivated us to win the title one year later,” he told Fever Pitch.

“The team has worked hard and our fans have walked with us in good and bad times, the only way to repay them is by winning the league. Nothing else will suffice. “Something else that remains a major motivation is possibility of winning the title back to back. We all want it and are going for nothing less,” Onyango said.

Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta admits this is a big moment for himself and the players and has vowed to ‘put their all’.

“This is the kind of match that builds your career as a coach and we are going for nothing less than a win away,” he said.

Kenyatta must find a way to motivate his players who have registered nine match losing streak and will be keen to end well.

Perhaps having the trophy at Ruaraka Stadium will motivate Sofapaka players to give it their all as they take on Tusker hoping that Gor falters in Kisumu.

Batoto ba Mungu have done everything to reach where they are and winning the title only for the second time will be a good way to wrap up the season.

The team is still in contention to win GOtv Shield pitting them in sight for a possible double this season and what a way it would be to end the season?

After a disappointing end to the season, Tusker who are out of contention for title, are keen to finish in third position and will be no push-overs against their opponents.