It is indeed a very long time since Gor Mahia ever won a match in a continental tie. In fact, there are many children who have since grown up and are now some of the rowdy fans of the team who only glean the glory of K’Ogalo from archives.
The first and last time the team won the Caf Champions League was way back in 1987. It is a feat that has never been repeated by any other team in this country. It is also a point the Green Army has thrown into every single argument about Kenyan football to vindicate themselves from any present attack.
On Saturday, Gor played against the Gabonese team Union Sportive du Bitam and bagged the three points.
A week to come, the second leg will be played in Gabon and it will matter very much to K’Ogalo faithful who will not be able to attend due to distance and financial constraints that plagues this continent.
At home, Gor Mahia had all the support they could get from their fans who filled up the Nyayo national stadium to cheer them up. But all they could manage was a one-nil scoreline from a Dan Sserunkuma penalty in the 75th minute.
By that time, Gor had made stuttering attacks at the US Bitam goalmouth but none of them was as dangerous as it ought to have been.
With a lineup made up of strikers like Rama Salim, George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo, Sserunkuma and speedy winger Shabaan Kenga one expected to get as many goals as possible to blunt the away return leg.
It was not to be, and the attack seemed half-hearted, uncoordinated and lacking in sharpness. Very many chances were created and lost without any hint of regret and the whole thing was made to look like some friendly match.
The Gabonese were wily and they defended quite admirably that one got the clear impression they were going to hold it and minimise as much as possible any damage they may incur away and then set the stage to oust their opponents in the return leg.
They did just that and even their coach, the legendary Francois Omam Biyik, said just as much in the end.
The K’Ogalo goal was scored when they were reduced to 10 men after their goalkeeper Yves Stephane Bitseki cheekily handled the ball outside the area to deny Gor a scoring chance.
He received a red card for his trouble but the ensuing free kick was blasted wide by Gor. The Green Army may be in jubilation but it is not yet over and the second leg may turn into a nightmare in Libreville.
There was a time in the eighties when Gor were drawn to start their campaign in Burundi against Vital O. The first match was played in Bujumbura and amazingly K’Ogalo beat the home side two one.
When the second leg was played here in Kenya, the Green Army was upbeat. They were sure Gor would put these meddlers to their place by beating them. It was not to be and I rememberthe depression many fans underwent as they watch the short and speedy Burundians tear their ‘invincible’ K’Ogalo three nil! It was a loss hard to swallow and some players like Charles Otieno had to run away from the enraged fans.
They had beaten this team away but failed at home and therein lies the lesson: matches are played twice and when one has a chance, it must be taken immediately and that is what K’Ogalo failed to do on Saturday.
You may point out the fact that they controlled the match all along, having the lion’s share of possession and many other aspects of the duel but we will indicate to you that in the end only goals will count.
The Gabonese league is in progress and their Bitam is said to have what is called match fitness which K’Ogalo lacks and when they knock- out Gor Mahia, spare us that very excuse please.
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