Charles Akonnor: Dandora Stadium not favourable for Gor Mahia-KCB fixture
By Joel Masibo, October 3, 2025Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has described Dandora Stadium as an unfavourable venue for the fourth round of the ongoing 2025/2026 Kenyan Premier League season, when K’Ogalo will face KCB on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the facility.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, the Ghanaian coach has described the slippery nature of the Dandora Stadium artificial turf surface as a hindrance to both teams.
”Of course, it is not favourable for both teams, the pitch is slippery, the players are not comfortable demonstrating what their coaches have taught them, and so it is not the best,” Akonnor said.
With both Nyayo National Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, unavailable, Gor Mahia will be forced to play their third fixture of the season at Dandora Stadium for the second consecutive time in a span of one week. This is after K’Ogalo played Sofapaka at the same venue previously and won 2-0, recording their firt win of the season.
Charles Akonnor has, however, said the team will try to manage the situation since there is no other option.
”We will manage it, the other day we managed it. We will try not to develop in the back, we will play in the opponent’s half and keep them there. We will find a strategy because we have seen the way the opponent plays and we have prepared adequately for that match,” Akonnor added.
KCB preparation
Meanwhile, Gor Mahia skipper Alpha Onyango is convinced preparations have been made well for the particular outing. In his remarks ahead of the crunch tie against the Bankers, who are guided by veteran tactician Robert (The Lion) Matano, Onyango is wary of the threat Matano’s charges pose but believes coach Charles Akonnor’s men are equal to the task.
”I think we have trained well for the upcoming match, and I also believe we will try our best to win the match. Obviously, it will not be an easy fixture. We know our opponent; they have won their two matches, but since we also won our previous match, there is renewed confidence and there is a feeling we will emerge victorious,” Onyango noted.
Gor Mahia will be heading into the Sunday tie as the favourite side after beating KCB 1-0 the last time the two sides met in a league match at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos in April 2025, when Austine Odhiambo’s lone goal proved vital.