Untouchables! Gor Mahia unbeaten all the way to football title
Pint-sized winger Innocent Wafula on Wednesday fired Gor Mahia to an unprecedented 15th Kenyan Premier League title, the glamour club bagging the crown for the third successive year after dispatching Sony Sugar 1-0 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Gor’s unbeaten this season was a repeat of K’Ogalo’s heroic feat of 1983, 1984 and 1985 when the glamour club dominated the local football scene under English coach Len Julians who also played for Premiership giants Arsenal from 1959-1960.
Heading to the high-stakes match, Gor needed just a point to confirm their status as the best side in the top tier this term and Wafula, who had until his goal in the 39th minute been kept silent in the match, sneaked into the box to poke the ball home, completing a move that also involved Godfrey Walusimbi and Meddie Kagere.
“It’s business as usual. We now have to recover from this game and prepare for the weekend but we are glad to be champions,” Gor coach Frank Nuttall said.
Nuttall was mobbed by hundreds of Gor’s jubilant fans.
Wednesday’s win saw Gor retain the title unbeaten on 66 points from 26 matches, effectively ending Ulinzi Stars’ faint hopes of claiming the gong on goal difference.
Ulinzi, on 51 points, can only collect a maximum 63 points should they win all their four remaining matches.
But Gor will have to put the champagne on ice till November 7 when they play their final match against Muhoroni Youth at home. Afterwards, Gor will be presented with the trophy.
After a rather cautious start on Wednesday, Gor’s George Odhiambo rattled Sony’s defence after linking up neatly with Kagere, but Sony defenders recovered to clear the danger.
Prior to kick-off, a minute of silence was observed in honour of two Gor Mahia fans who died in a road accident on Sunday while travelling back to Nairobi from Nakuru where they had gone to cheer their team against Ulinzi Stars.