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Leopards dare to dream again, Gor keep winning

July 9th, 2015 2 min read

Under the beaming floodlights at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday evening, AFC Leopards fans celebrated their 2-1 win over KCB in disbelief.

The victory was thoroughly uplifting for a club that is choking on financial and managerial instability, and one that lost a good percentage of their first team players in the June transfer period.

Patrick Kagogo, who joined the club from Sofapaka on deadline day, instantly attained hero status for scoring the winning goal in stoppage time and the three vital points helped the club leapfrog Tusker into fourth spot in the Kenyan Premier League table behind champions Gor Mahia, Sofapaka and Ulinzi Stars.

“I just had a feeling I would score today. I didn’t like it that I was made to start from the bench so I said to myself that I have to make an impact and I am glad it happened,” Kagogo told Daily Nation Sport after the match.

Thika United’s Kennedy Otieno (left) and Godfrey Walusimbi of Gor Mahia during a KPL match at City Stadium. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU
Thika United’s Kennedy Otieno (left) and Godfrey Walusimbi of Gor Mahia during a KPL match at City Stadium. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU

But while Ingwe were enjoying only a rare night of victory, Gor Mahia enjoyed a routinely joyous afternoon at the City Stadium where they beat Thika United 2-0.

UNBEATEN RUN

The siege mentality that the champions have displayed throughout the season saw utility player Godfrey Walusimbi score his league debut goal as striker Michael Olunga maintained a hold at the helm of the KPL scorers’ chart with his 72nd minute goal.

But even though the 14-time champions bear all the hallmarks of a title winning team having recorded an impressible 17-match unbeaten run, coach Frank Nuttall refuses to think much of the possibility of lifting the league title in unbeaten fashion.

With 45 points from 17 matches and a 12-point advantage at the helm, the Scottish tactician still thinks it is too early to speak authoritatively about them winning the 2015 silverware.

“It is a good thing that our unbeaten record is still intact, but it is still not time to take about winning the title. What is important for us is to maintain this winning performance in every match to the very end,” Nuttall said.

K’Ogalo’s fiery feat has helped create an intimidating, belittling environment for the other title contenders in Sofapaka, Ulinzi Stars, Tusker and Leopards whose title credentials now depend on their ability to cut the massive gap.