Gor Mahia win record 20th FKF Premier League title

Gor Mahia players lift the 2022-2023 FKF Premier League title.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

At last! Gor Mahia are champions again.

Gor Mahia on Sunday won the 2022-2023 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League title after coming from behind to thrash Nairobi City Stars 4-1 in the season finale match played at Kasarani Stadium.

Gor headed to the match with Simba wa Nairobi in need of three points to be sure of reclaiming the title form defending champions Tusker who were one point behind them. Tusker saw off already relegated Vihiga Bullets 4-0 in Mumias.

Gor Mahia fans celebrate after clinching the FkF Premier League 2023 title against Nairobi City Stars at The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Sunday 25, June, 2023. [Courtesy]

After a dry first half, Samuel Kapen gave City Stars a surprise 1-0 lead in the 48^th minute before Benson Omalla scored a record equaling 26 goal of the season to restore parity for K'Ogalo.

Omalla not only moved level with Kenya Police's Elvis Rupia but also matched Maurice 'Sonyi' Ochieng 47-year-old goal scoring record of 26 goals achieved in 1976 with Gor.

Gor Mahia players lift the 2022-2023 FKF Premier League title.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

With Tusker already 2-0 ahead at the break, pressure was growing for Gor to find a breakthrough that they found through Peter Lwasa in the 63^rd minute to take an important 2-1 lead.

Austin Odhiambo sealed the win with a goal in the 81^st minute before Alpha Onyango put the icing on the cake in added minutes.

The win saw Gor reach 70 points, a point above Tusker who will now have to win the FKF Cup final against Kakamega Homeboyz to stand a chance of playing continental football next season.

Gor Mahia automatically qualifies to play in the CAF Champions League by virtue of being Kenyan champions. The winner of the FKF Cup will play in the Caf Confederations Cup.

ICT CS Eliud Owalo celebrates with Gor Mahia after winning the FKF-PL title.[Courtesy]

K'Ogalo answered ICT CS Eliud Owalo's prayers after earlier meeting with all the coordinators of the Gor Mahia fans branches, at the Tom Mboya Statute, along Moi Avenue, Nairobi.

Owalo who is a die-hard Gor fan had urged fans to throng Kasarani Stadium to sing and dance all the way in support for K'Ogalo which they did.

"I wish Gor Mahia a good outing on the pitch today; to lift the coveted FKF-PL title. Subsequently, I look forward to an inspiring continental campaign by K'Ogalo," Owalo said in the morning.

Owalo proceeded to conngratulate K'Ogalo for winning the title.

"Congratulations to Gor Mahia for winning the title after trouncing City Stars 4-1. I look forward to hosting the team on Monday," he said in the evening.

Tom Mboya has been a special meeting place for Gor Mahia fans over the years.

City Stars' Denis Oala and Ernest Wendo of Gor Mahia during FkF Premier League at The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Sunday 25, June, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Meanwhile, Elvis Rupia won the FKF Premier League Golden Boot by a reacord breaking 27 goals.

Rupia scored in Kenya Police's 2-2 draw with KCB.

Rupia now breaks the 47-year-old standing record of Maurice Ochieng Sonyi when he scored 26 goals for Gor in 1976.