Gor Mahia coach Akonnor confident ahead of Simba SC pre-season showdown
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 9, 2025Gor Mahia are set to face Tanzanian giants Simba SC in a high-profile pre-season match on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.
The Kenyan former champions have announced a 25-man travelling squad, which features eight new signings who are expected to bolster the team ahead of the upcoming FKF Premier League season.
Speaking ahead of the match, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor expressed confidence in his team.
“Simba is a big club. This will be a big match for us, and we are looking forward to it. It’s an important pre-season match; for us, it’s a training match but a big one. We are very confident, and we believe we will have a very good match tomorrow,” he said during a press briefing on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The travelling squad includes key new arrivals such as Mike Kibwage, who joined from Tusker FC on a two-year deal, and Lewis Bandi from rivals AFC Leopards. Ghanaian duo Ebenezer Adu, a striker, and George Amonoo will also be part of the team. Fidel Origa, formerly of Bandari FC, completes the list of new additions making the trip. Veron Ombima, who joined from a lower-tier club, misses out on the match.
Captain Philemon Otieno also spoke ahead of the fixture, highlighting the team’s focus on tomorrow’s game.
“We travelled well, and the reception was good. Simba is one of the top sides in the region, and we have played against them before, but the past is past. We are focused on tomorrow’s game with an aim of achieving the best,” Otieno said during the press briefing.
Mainstays join Gor Mahia
Alongside the new signings, Gor Mahia will be joined by several mainstays, including Ernest Wendo, Ben Stanley, Austine Odhiambo, Alpha Onyango, Paul Ochuoga, Bryton Onyona, and Sylvester Owino. Players who are currently on national duty, such as Michael Kibwage, Sylvester Owino, Lewis Bandi, Alphonse Omija, Alpha Onyango, and Ben Stanley, are expected to join the squad in Tanzania after completing their Harambee Stars assignments.
The technical staff travelling to Tanzania includes head coach Charles Akonnor and assistant coach Bismark Koby-Mensah, along with goalkeeper coach Ben Owu, video analyst Joshua Kofi, team doctor Brian Odongo, and kit manager Ibrahim Odero.
This year’s fixture is particularly significant, as Gor Mahia has been invited as the chief guest for Simba Day, a traditional pre-season event in Tanzania that was postponed last year due to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The last meeting between the two sides took place on June 10, 2018, when Gor Mahia defeated Simba SC 2-0 in a tournament final. Since then, Simba has strengthened its squad and consistently reached the knockout stages of CAF inter-club competitions, including a run to the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup final.