When the Boys Ran Riot

It has been 2 years since the boys ran riot, walloping KCB 6-1. Earlier that season, they had also demolished Nakuru Allstars 5-0, the highlight of the game being that wonderful Meddie Kagere skill that left the Allstars goalkeeper bewildered. Since then, Gor Mahia has been more in the business of grinding out results, and are yet to score more than 4 goals. But it has not always been so. I delved into the past to reminisce about the days when the boys ran riot and have come across the following gems.

Enjoy

Date	Vs Team	Score	Scorers
04 Aug 1996	Al Fatah (Moi Golden Cup)	13-0	George Sunguti (2) George Ousa Eric Obura Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno (2) Charles Onditi (2) Vincent Odhiambo (2) Paul Wesonga Dan Ogada Charles Ogada
19 May 1974	Digo United	12-0	James Ogolla Kadir John Chore Peter Ouma (3) Laban Otieno (4) Allan Thigo (2) Jackson Aluko
27 June 1973	Tiriki FC (Nairobi Provincial League)	10-2	Fred Siranga (2) Martin Ouma Allan Thigo (2) Jackson Aluko (2) Peter Ouma (2) John Chore
22 July 1995	Kitale Rangers	9-1	Steve Odiaga (3) Mike Otieno Allan Odhiambo Tom Ochieng Dan Ogada Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno
14 Oct 1979	Kisumu Hotstars	9-1	Sammy Owino (3) Maurice Ochieng (2) Andrew Obunga Tim Ayieko Nahashon Oluoch George Yoga
19 Aug 1979	Nyanam	9-1	George Yoga (3) Nahashon Oluoch “Lule” (3) Tim Ayieko Sammy Owino Maurice Ouma
17 May 1980	MoW	8-1	Tim Ayieko (2) Allan Thigo Andrew Obunga Sammy Owino George Yoga (2) Paul Oduwo
07 April 1995	Silver Stars	7-0	Eric Obura (3) Joseph Owino (2) Dan Ogada Tom Ochieng
17 Dec 1989	Lake Warriors	7-0	Jared Achieng George Onyango Fundi Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” Charles Omondi “Korea” Mike Otieno Austin Oduor (2)
16 Oct 1988	Panpaper (Moi Golden Cup)	7-0	Austin Oduor (2) Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” (2) Peter Dawo George Nyangi Odembo (2)
08 Mar 1986	Kitale	7-0	Ben Oloo “Breakdance” (3) Austin Oduor (2) Hesbone Omollo (2)
20 June 1981	Mwangaza FC	7-0	Abbey Nassur (2) Andrew Obunga Hamisi Shamba (2) Paul Oduwo Austin Oduor
24 May 1975	Police	7-0	Martin Ouma (3) Peter Ouma (3) Allan Thigo
23 Mar 1975	Kisumu Hotstars	7-0	Francis Mudany (2) Allan Thigo (2) Maurice Ouma Jackson Aluko Benson Oballa
28 Feb 1971	Kisii	7-0	Martin Ouma (2) Benson Oballa (2) Tom Obondi Stephen Yongo Allan Thigo
20 July 1975	Champion	7-1	Allan Thigo Jackson Aluko Andrew Obunga Peter Ouma Maurice Ouma Benson Oballa (2)
17 Mar 1974	Feisal	7-1	Allan Thigo John Chore (2) Laban Otieno Jaoko Orifa Francis Mudany (2)
11 Sep 2013	Shabana (FKF Cup)	6-0	Kevin Omondi (2) Danny Sserenkuma (2) Angelo Okumu Edwin Lavatsa
10 May 2003	Chemelil Guza (President Cup)	6-0	Patrick Oyiengo (2) Isaiah “Song” Omondi (2) Emmanuel Wakata Robert Oluoko
26 Sep 1998	Utalii	6-0	William Odidi (3) Steve Odiaga Tom Ochieng (2)
28 May 1989	Panpaper	6-0	Austin Oduor Peter Dawo (4) Ignatius Khaduli
31 Jan 1989	Embu Stima (1988 league game)	6-0	Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” (2) Peter Dawo (2) Isaiah Omondi Joseph Owino
15 June 1986	Blue Triangle	6-0	Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” (2) Anthony Ndolo (2) Abass Magongo George Nyangi Odembo
15 Feb 1981	Kisumu Post Office	6-0	Enock Obwaka George Yoga (2) Allan Thigo Hamisi Shamba Dan Odhiambo
7 Oct 1979	Ramogi	6-0	Andrew Obunga (2) Allan Thigo (2) Tim Ayieko George Yoga
12 Aug 1979	Kisumu Blackstars	6-0	George Yoga (3) Tim Ayieko Nahashon Oluoch “Lule” (2)
30 June 1973	Mackenzie Dalgety (Nairobi Provincial League)	6-0	Martin Ouma Jackson Aluko (2) John Oduor Fred Siranga Allan Thigo
9 Aug 2015	KCB	6-1	Michael Olunga Meddie Kagere (2) Khalid Aucho Enock Agwanda Own Goal
31 Jan 1987	Meru Bombers	6-1	Hesbone Omollo (2) George Nyangi Odembo (2) Anthony Ndolo Own Goal
01 Oct 1981	Nairobi KCC (FA Cup)	6-1	Peter Otieno Bassanga (2) Abbey Nassur (2) Gideon Hamisi Maurice Ouma Own Goal
19 Aug 1972	Nakuru Abaluhya (later Abeingo)	6-1	Jaoko Orifa John Chore (2) Allan Thigo (2) William “Chege” Ouma
26 May 1968	vs Liverpool FC (later Mwenge)	6-2	Stephen Yongo (3) William "Chege" Ouma (2) Olima Ayodo
22 June 1968	Kisumu Hotstars	6-2	William "Chege" Ouma (2) Stephen Yongo (2) Midiaga (2
17 Jan 1971	Kenya Airforce	6-2	Albert Oketch Benson Oballa Walter Molo (2) Martin Ouma Allan Thigo
16 Mar 1972	Nairobi Spurs (Nairobi Provincial League)	6-2	Fred Siranga (3) Elly Otieno (2) Allan Thigo
12 Aug 1972	Kimilili	6-2	Martin Ouma (3) Fred Siranga (2) John Chore

The Curse of the New Boys - Hunting the Sharks

The Kenya Premier League is finally back after a delayed start orchastrated by the tussle over the number of teams to participate in the league and the club licensing fiasco. Gor Mahia has been drawn to play debutants Kariobangi Sharks in Thika and the Green Army will be expecting nothing short of a victory. The team has strengthened, notably in the midfield where it was felt that the departure of Ugandan midfield kingpin Khalid Aucho mid last season played a big role in derailing their quest for an unprecendented fourth consecutive league title. Aided by the fact that they will be playing a promoted team will no doubt add to a feeling of optimism.

But wait a second, when did Gor Mahia last win a match in their first encounter with a promoted team? Last year we beat newly promoted Kakamega Homeboyz 3-0 but that was after drawing with Posta Rangers 0-0.  Infact one has to go all the way back to 2010, when a double by Duncan Owiti "Macheda" (remember him?) and a goal by George Odhiambo "Blackberry" condemned Mahakama to a 3-1 defeat. Since then we have drawn 3 (Posta Rangers, Kakamega Homeboyz, Congo United) and lost 2 (Nakuru All Stars and Muhoroni Youth). Infact since 2011 we have not scored a goal in our first match of the season against a promoted team. Our record in the second match is slightly better, beating Kakamega Homeboyz last year and Bandari in 2011. The rest has been draws with a loss against Oserian in 2012.

Duncan Owiti "Macheda" was on the double the last time K'Ogalo won their first meeting against a newly promoted side

Gor Mahia has come a long way since that day in 2011 when Ezekiel Odera and Dan Makori were on the scoresheet against Congo United (the last time we scored a goal in our first match of the season against a promoted team) and fans will hope that the attacking force of Tuyisenge and Timothy Otieno who are the likely starters will finally break that duck.

Below are the results of our first encounters against newly promoted teams

2016
Posta Rangers 0-0
Kakamega Homoboyz 3-0

2014
Nakuru All Stars 0-2
KRA 0-0

2013
Kakamega Homeboyz 0-0
Bandari 0-0

2012
Muhoroni Youth 0-1
Oserian 0-1

2011
Congo 2-2
Bandari 1-0

2010
Mahakama 3-1
Posta Rangers 1-0

Its Squeaky Bum Time – When Tusker Wept…Then Gor Mahia Wept

On 29^th October 1994, Kenya Breweries, nowadays known as Tusker FC prepared to meet Mumias Sugar FC in Nairobi. This was their most significant match to date in 16 years, an opportunity to finally win Kenya’s premier football league. They had watched Gor Mahia and AFC exchange the titles over the years, unable to do anything about it. The season begun on a low note for them, with losses against defending champions Gor Mahia and title rivals AFC Leopards and unconvincing performances in draws against Utalii, Sony and Mumias. But since then, Paul Onyera, Henry Motego and the captain Shem Nyaberi had laced their scoring boots and strung together a string of impressive victories.  AFC Leopards challenge badly faltered along the way but while not in swashbuckling form themselves, Gor Mahia had kept abreast with the Brewers, largely due to the industrious Allan Odhiambo who kept finding the back of the net in crucial games, waiting to pounce should the Brewers falter. On 14^th August Allan was on the score sheet as they held the Brewers to 2-2 draw, other goals coming from Dan Shikanda for Gor Mahia and Boniface Oduor and Vincent Kwarula for Breweries. But the Ruaraka boys kept marching on until 12 October when Scarlet had won 3-2 thus setting up Gor Mahia to move in for the kill. And so on the Saturday of 29^th October, Mumias came calling in.

Allan Odhiambo "Alle Alle" had kept Gor Mahia in the title race 

A win for Breweries would guarantee them their first league title in 16 years while a loss would open the door for Gor Mahia to be in the driving seat to retain the title for the second season running and for the fourth time in five years. Earlier in the season Henry Motego had scored a double to help them hold Mumias Sugar to a 2-2 draw in Mumias, cancelling out goals by Nick Yakhama and Philip Wesonga. So this was obviously going to be no easy match despite the fact that the sugar millers had not won in their last four matches. Abbas “Zamalek” Magongo had come in to score his last two goals for Gor Mahia to down Nzoia 2-1 and so Breweries needed to produce a result to completely shut out the door on K’Ogalo. Goals by Sammy Shollei, Vincent Kwarula and George Omondi should have been enough to secure the title but then Mohammed Seif, Bernard Onyango (2) and Phillip Wesonga struck to condemn the Brewers to a 3-4 home loss. After the game, Vincent Kwarula and Zaccheus Omondi broke down in tears, knowing that the opportunity they had craved for so long was gone.

This would have been a perfect ending for Gor Mahia fans had the story ended here but on the next day, a resolute Rivatex side held Gor Mahia to a barren draw thus again handing the initiative to Tusker! This time Festus Serenge made sure there would be no regrets, condemning Transcom to a 1-0. Tusker were thus able to dethrone K’Ogalo from the throne. In a way the story of the 2016 season resembles this story. Gor has been perched on the throne for three straight years with Tusker doing everything in their power to dethrone them. A poor start by Gor Mahia gave them the headstart they needed, and when Gor caught up, a 3 point deduction for crowd trouble ensured the Brewers maintained an advantage. And every time they slipped, Gor Mahia were unable to pounce. And just as they beat a Nakuru side to finally lay their hands on the trophy, this time they travel to Nakuru, hoping a win over K’Ogalo’s old enemy will finally hand them the trophy. For Gor Mahia fans, they can only hope that just as Vincent Kwarula and Zaccheus Omondi wept that Saturday evening 22 years ago, some players from the Ruaraka side will be weeping in Nakuru. But then, can Muhoroni still spoil the party as Rivatex did some 22 years ago in the event the Brewers falter? 

How The legend Began: Gor Mahia's Incredible Debut Season

After wrangles that had earlier hit the larger Luo Union Sports Club and the eventual formation of Gor Mahia, the team got down to business for the 1968 league season. The league was made up of 9 teams, namely;

1. Gor Mahia - Nairobi
2. Abaluhya (later AFC Leopards) - Nairobi
3. Liverpool (later Mwenge FC) - Mombasa
4. Nakuru All Stars - Nakuru
5. Kisumu Hot Stars - Kisumu
6. Ramogi (later Lake Warriors) - Mombasa
7. Maragoli (Later Imara FC) - Nairobi
8. Feisal FC - Mombasa
9. Maseno Harambee - Kisumu

Having carried over the legendary William Ouma "Chege" from Luo Union, Gor Mahia was expected to challenge for the league title. However it was expected that either one of the four teams, strong contenders Nakuru All Stars, perennial favourites Abaluhya and Mombasa's Liverpool and Feisal would emerge the winners. Gor Mahia would however begin the campaign in April by beating favourites Nakuru All Stars 2-1, with Walter Molo creating a little bit of history by becoming the first person to score for Gor Mahia in a competitive league match. The second game was the first "Mashemeji derby" as it has now come to be known, and William Ouma "Chege" bagged the first double for a Gor Mahia player as Abaluhya succumbed to a 2-1 loss. By the time Stephen Yongo scored a hattrick in a 6-2 demolition of Liverpool, it was clear that Gor Mahia were now title favourites as they went on an 8 game unbeaten streak. It took an extra-ordinary performance by Nakuru to stop them on their tracks, beating them 4-3 despite Chege's first league hattrick for Gor Mahia. Nakuru All Stars thus became the first team to beat Gor Mahia in a league match, a week after Ramogi had become the first team to deny them maximum points by holding them to a 1-1 draw.

Yongo, first hattrick for Gor Mahia, finished the season with 7 goals

A run of 3 consecutive wins ensured that Gor were in the driving seat for the title though Feisal would attempt to apply the brakes by becoming the first team to keep a clean sheet against K'Ogalo after winning 1-0 in Mombasa. Abaluhya FC were however determined not to let Gor win the title without a fight and had stayed within touching distance by matching Gor Mahia's recent results. Going into the penultimate round, Abaluhya needed to win their remaining two games and pray that Gor slip up before derby, set as the final game of the season, would decide the title. That penultimate game was against Kisumu Hot Stars in Kisumu while Gor faced off against Maseno. Kisumu Hot Stars beat the fancied Abaluhya 2-1 and Gor Mahia (playing without leading scorer Chege who had began a 9-month jail sentence for assault), made sure they finished the game by thumping Maseno 5-2. Gor Mahia thus become champions for the first time with the derby, ending 1-1 with goals from current Kisii Senator Chris Obure and Noah Wanyama, becoming a formality. The record was played 16, won 12, lost 2, drawn 2, scored 47 goals and  conceded 21 goals. And thus began the legend...

With this title it looked as though Gor Mahia was set to dominate the league but then the league was not played in 1969 (despite constant erroneous reporting by the media that it was won by Nakuru All Stars) and with the establishment of Kenya Breweries and the emergence of a stronger Abaluhya in the early 1970s, Gor would have to wait until 1974 for their next title. The rest, as they say, is history...

Link to the complete results for the 1968 season

Some interesting trivia from the first season for trivia lovers

• Walter Molo became the first person to score a league goal for Gor Mahia
• Stephen Yongo became the first person to score a league hattrick for Gor Mahia
• Ramogi became the first team to deny Gor Mahia a league victory
• Nakuru All Stars became the first team to hand Gor Mahia a defeat in the league
• Feisal became the first team to keep a clean sheet against Gor Mahia in a league game
• Gor Mahia won the first "Mashemeji" derby bragging rights
• William Ouma Chege was Gor Mahia's first top scorer in a league season (19 goals), a feat recently matched by Michael Olunga (and Peter Dawo in 1987) and only bettered by three other players since then. This feat is even more incredible because it was a 16 game season and he missed the final two games because of a prison sentence
• William Ouma Chege became the first player to score 4 goals for Gor Mahia in a single league game

A Tale of 2 Coaches - Is Ze Maria Underrated?

Ze Maria still in Nuttal's shadow

He has only been in charge of 15 league games and a section of the K’Ogalo nation are already getting restless with coach Ze Maria as Gor Mahia lie four points behind league leaders Tusker. Another 0-0 draw with Bandari made it 3 draws in the last five games, and with only 9 games to go, the fans are getting jittery.  While Ze Maria has maintained that his strategy includes laying foundations for the future, for a fanbase used to success in the recent past and with Frank Nuttal’s shadow never far off, nothing short of an unprecedented 4^th league win in a row will keep them happy. At first glance I thought that Ze Maria’s league record is not that bad, despite of protestations by the so-called Nuttal Orphans. Maybe we are performing ok and it is other teams that have improved their performances? Taking cue from a similar comparison I did a while back when Nuttal was in his 20^th league game, I thought the only way to find out is to compare his first 15 league games with that of his predecessor, and find out if his job is really that shoddy or whether all he needs is time.

	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points	Ave Points PG
Ze Maria	15	10	1	4	34	2.27
Frank Nuttal	15	10	1	4	34	2.27

  

As it turns out, Ze Maria’s and Frank Nuttal’s records are actually identical. So could it be that maybe fans took to Nuttal’s high tempo width and cross game as opposed to the deliberate and often intricate approach Ze Maria is trying to inculcate? Fans love goals and maybe we can use goals scored versus those conceded as a measure of how exciting the teams have been?

	Matches	Goals scored (& average per game)	Goals conceded (& average per game)
Ze Maria	15	20	5
Frank Nuttal	15	28	12

Here we see Nuttal’s side were generally more attack minded, scoring an average of 1.9 goals per game as opposed to Ze Maria’s 1.3 goals. Ze Maria was a defender and maybe he has focused on the defensive discipline as his team only concedes an average of 0.3 goals per game compared to Nuttal’s 0.8 conceded in his first 10 games.

It looks like all Ze Maria needs to do is ensure the team scores more goals and maybe he will win over the fans.