Nairobi City Stars assistant coach Patrick Gitagia has revealed the tactics they used to beat Gor Mahia 2-1 in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League match on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Dandora Stadium.

It was a perfect chance for Gor Mahia to win and improve their chances of defending the Premier League title, but they suffered a 2-1 loss. Hansel Ochieng and Vincent Owino scored for Simba wa Nairobi, while Omala scored for K’Ogalo.

Gitagia said they had analysed Gor Mahia’s playstyle and identified their weaknesses, something that worked for them during the match.

“We analysed their system—they play with three at the back. One of their defenders often pushes forward, which leaves just two at the back. When you deploy two strikers against that shape, you create a 2v2 situation, which favors the attackers. That’s exactly what we capitalized on, and it gave us the edge,” Gitagia told the press.

Although City Stars remain in the relegation zone, they boosted their survival chances as they are no longer at the bottom of the table. The former Kenya Police tactician believes the win over Gor Mahia will motivate them as they fight to remain in the top flight.

“We’ve completed a double over Gor Mahia, which shows the character of this team. Even though we’re still in the danger zone, this performance proves we don’t belong there. We’re confident we can fight our way out with just three games to go. Every match from now on is a final,” he continued.

City Stars will face Posta Rangers on Sunday at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, and Gitagia says they are ready for the Mailmen.

“We’ve watched Posta in a couple of games, including their match against Ulinzi Stars. Most teams in the league don’t change their formation much, so we have a good idea of what to expect.

“Though time for preparation is short, we’ll make the most of it and ensure the players are ready,” he said.