After failing to progress in the CAF Champions League, Gor Mahia are set to begin their Football Kenya Federation Premier League campaign with a match against Mathare United on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
However, this match is predicted to be a rather tough encounter for the reigning champions given how they have performed against the Slum Boys before.
As they start their title defence campaign, K’Ogalo would hope to get things on the right foot right from the beginning. Head coach Leonardo Neiva is also making his debut in the Premier League and would want top-level performance from his boys.
Head-to-head stats
The record Premier League champions have played against Mathare 40 times, according to stats provided by K’Ogalo. Across those matches, the heavyweights have managed to win 14 games, have lost 12 and 14 others ended in draws.
This only points out how the matches between Gor Mahia and the 2008 Premier League champions have been tough encounters for both sides.
Gor Mahia have found the back of the net 45 times and conceded 38 goals in those games, but going into the Kenyatta Stadium match, they would like to win and even keep a clean sheet in order to start the campaign on a clean slate.
Gor Mahia’s most number of goals scored in a match against the Eastlands side were 4-2 when Michael Olunga and Ali Abondo each scored a brace in 2015.
Jacques Tuyisenge remains Gor Mahia’s top scorer against Mathare United in the league, given that the Rwandan international found the back of the net six times against the Slum Boys.
Coach Neiva confident
Despite elimination from the continental stage, the Brazilian coach wants his players to keep the fighting spirit shown during the match against the Egyptian gainst, Al Ahly.
“We have to keep the same spirit that we played with against Al-Ahly. The same behaviour, same attitude and commitment. I believe we are going to do a nice game for our debut in the Premier League.
“Now that we are done with CAF competition, we are back on league duty. We are preparing well for Mathare United on Saturday. I’d like to encourage our fans to take heart. The players will do everything to ensure we start the season by clinching all three points,” Neiva said, as quoted by a local publication.
The match in Machakos will kick off at 4:00 PM.
