Gor Mahia Untamed

Lately i've had my thoughts entangled in the local football scene. It's a joy to watch, just how much it has improved over the year needless to say the level of competition it has achieved. Nowadays you can easily catch up with Kenyan football, thanks to supesport who bought broadcasting rights a few years back. I bet in the next few years to come it shall have improved more with the involvement of corporates and influx of foreign players. The 2014-2015 season ended on a high with all teams going full throttle. It has been a remarkable season particularly for Bandari Fc, Muhoroni Fc and of course the reigning champions Gor Mahia. Lots of records broken and newer ones put in place. Gor Mahia had perhaps the best season that has eluded them in atleast 39 years. However there are lots of coincidences. Gor last won the league consecutively in 1983, 1984 and 1985 analogous to 2013, 2014 and 2015 considering the last digits. In 1976 the team went unbeaten with the team producing a top scorer with 26 goals, but Olunga managed 19 goals, 3 shy of Were's 22. The club amassed a record 78 points superseding Mathare's record of 65 points. This cannot be easy, in any league on the face of this planet. But the champions had made clear their intentions by lifting the supersport cup from the onset. The boys then maintained a record of unbeaten run in all tournaments, keeping 10 clean sheets in the process. This kept them atop the league for the entire first leg. Cecafa Kagame cup is contested annually by top clubs in the region and Kogallo was slotted by virtue of being the Kenyan representative. Most Kenyans have little or no faith in our football and as such expected possibly the worst performance from Gor who haven't won the tourney in decades. Slim chances of winning to say, but that was not to be as the reverse unfolded. Gor stormed into the tournament with composure winning all their matches, and beating notably big names like Yanga Fc and Al Khartoum from Sudan. I must admit that this was unexpected, it was surreal if you will. It's only then that the team got recognition back in Kenya and received adequate attention from the press. Kenyans became more informed and became more akin to the proceedings down in Dar es Salam. It's hard to come into terms with defeat but Kogallo succumbed to defeat at the finals to worthy opponents Azam fc. This could have rubbed ardent fans the wrong way but reaching the finals was no easy feat, and there couldn't be anything better than celebrating. The pain of losing the accolade was immense but surprisingly didn't take toll on the players who returned to the sportpesa premier league guns blazing and picking up from just where they had left. Gor ended the second leg unbeaten, surviving a scare from Mathare and Bandari. Tusker on the contrary went south with dismal performance, it's surprising to note that most players who made it into Kogallo's squad had been plying their trade for the brewers. Consider Aucho, Abondo, Oluoch, Okoth and Olunga. With the inclusion of proficient foreign players Gor achieved the critical mass, playing football as though it was a telepathic poker game. Scot Paul Nuttal has had a decorated season in Kenya winning the top 8 tournament. The final against Sony fc was the toughest impediment the club has had to overcome in domestic soccer. The match proceeded into extra time after an all draw. Thanks to Kagere's goal it was only the seventh time Gor was chasing a match this season after the latter conceded an early goal. A swan makes wading look easier but the effort beneath the waves is immense. There was aways going to be trouble albeit most of it never got to the media. Typical of any Kenyan club, players always complain of delayed wages and Gor is no exception. The club bore the brunt of low finances but still remunerated both players and officials a move that was lauded by many as far as management is concerned. As things stand the club has achieved a treble but still in contention for the Gotv shield at the quarter final stage. We wish the champions all the best though i'd opt for a different winner since soccer is competitive in nature. As football matures in Kenya so should management. In my opinion FKF should desist from antagonising KPL whose sole business is to run the sportpesa premier for the greater good of the entire football fraternity, for God's sake no one likes the ever present confusion. Sam Nyamweya has to some extent failed in growing football in Kenya, and spends time politicking rather than establishing proper frameworks of improving soccer in Kenya. Elections beckon but i'd rather endorse another person who has the abilities and skills required. It's only then that Kenyan soccer will improve.