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Gor Mahia are going to miss three key players for their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match against AFC Leopards on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

Head coach Johnathan McKinstry has said Gad Mathews, Patrick Kaddu, and John Macharia are not going to be available for this season’s first edition of the Mashemeji Derby.

“Largely, it is about the existing injuries. John Macharia is on the training ground for the first day after picking up an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago. He is not, however, fully involved and is probably not going to be ready for the weekend.

“Patrick Kaddu is in the final phase of his therapy after tearing a ligament in his knee. He is probably a couple of weeks or three weeks away.

“Gad Mathews is back in training and is two or three weeks away. Other than that, there is no real concern because of the guys who have been around the team; there is no injury concern there,” McKinstry said.

The coach, who is looking for his first win in the derby, also spoke about his expectations of the referees.

Refereeing standards

Drawing an example from a recent VAR drama in the Liverpool match against Tottenham Hotspur, the coach said mistakes can happen, but accountability is key during such an incident.

“We just hope that they will get it right, but being a referee is a difficult job. I think you have even seen in the English Premier League this week that not just a mistake but a big mistake can happen.

“All you want is accountability and people to be trained to get better. Coaches make mistakes, players make mistakes, analysts make mistakes, and referees make mistakes.

“But we need to make sure that they are honest mistakes and that they try to learn from them and improve,” he continued.

While promising that Gor Mahia would showcase an entertaining game, he also hoped that the referee for the game would be one who would be most suitable.

“I do not know who is going to be the referee, but it is obviously somebody that we think has higher standards than others in the league.

“I think last year in both derbies we had good referees that managed the game and the emotions of the game well.

“The game is not only for the people of Kenya, but it will go live in East Africa and across Africa. We want to put on a spectacle. We want to show the best side of Kenyan football,” he concluded.

AFC Leopards, who have had a poor season start and therefore put a lot of pressure on head coach Tom Juma, will host K’Ogalo at Moi International Sports Complex in Kasarani.