Gor Mahia’s head coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, has publicly addressed the disappointment following the club’s unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League title, which was claimed by Kenya Police FC.
The record champions, boasting 21 league titles, aimed for a third consecutive victory after dominating the previous two seasons. Instead, it was Police who etched their name in history by winning their maiden title with a match to spare.
In need of just a point from their penultimate match against Shabana to seal the title, Police triumphed with a 1-0 victory, finishing the season with an insurmountable 64 points and ending Gor Mahia’s reign at the top. Their campaign featured 18 wins, 10 draws, and 5 losses.
This season has been a rollercoaster for K’Ogalo, with early setbacks casting doubt on their title retention from day one. The club experienced inconsistent results, leading to the dismissal of Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva after merely six league matches.
Gor Mahia started the season strong with a 4-0 victory over Mathare United, followed by a comprehensive 3-0 win over Posta Rangers. However, they then recorded a goalless draw with KCB, followed by a disappointing 2-1 loss to Nairobi City Stars, compounded by a defeat to Simba, and another 2-2 draw against Murang’a Seal, capped off with a 2-0 loss to Bandari FC.
The defeat against Bandari marked the turning point for Martins Neiva, leading to his replacement by Otieno, alongside Michael Nam as interim coach.
At the point when Police celebrated their victory, Gor Mahia had accumulated 58 points, which was six behind the new champions. They recorded 16 wins, 10 draws, and 7 losses. Last season, in clinching the title from Tusker with 73 points, Gor Mahia only faced three defeats.
Gor Mahia expresses their disappointment
Otieno, a former Harambee Stars defender, stated that Gor Mahia’s quest for the title was likely hindered by a congested schedule filled with back-to-back matches, something he described as “challenging.”
“We made an effort, but the relentless schedule was taxing. At one point, we had to play eight matches in just 21 days, which was incredibly difficult.
“Sadly, we couldn’t fulfil our primary objective of winning the league. However, I believe we possess a solid team that can regroup and return stronger next season.”
With the league title now out of reach, Gor Mahia’s last hope for silverware lies in the FKF Cup final, where they are set to face Nairobi United, who recently earned promotion from the National Super League (NSL) ahead of the upcoming season.
“We have one final match to wrap up the season against Police, and it’s crucial we finish strongly. Our aim is to win for our supporters and use it as preparation for the FKF Cup final, a match we must approach with every intention of claiming a trophy,” Otieno, who is a former Gor Mahia player and has represented the Kenyan national team in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, affirmed.
“At the start of the season, our goals were set — first to retain our title, followed by winning the FKF Cup. We’ve missed the first target, and now all focus is on the second. For a team of Gor Mahia’s stature, it’s only right to conclude the season with a trophy, and we’ll do all we can to achieve that in the final.”
This sentiment was echoed by captain Philemon Otieno, who has called on fans to rally together for the final game of the season and show their support in facing the new champions.
“We need the backing of our fans. Though we have not claimed the title, that shouldn’t deter them from attending our last match of the season. We want to deliver a win for them as we gear up for the FKF Cup final,” Otieno urged.
The Police team will officially receive their trophy on Sunday, June 22nd, following the match against Gor Mahia at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
2024/25 Premier League to conclude this Sunday
As the 2024/25 season reaches its conclusion, the focus will now shift to the battle against relegation, with nine fixtures scheduled across the nation on Sunday.
With Police already crowned champions, all eyes are now on which teams will secure their place in the league next season.
The bottom five teams are at risk of dropping down, including FC Talanta in 14th place, with Posta Rangers, Nairobi City Stars, Murang’a Seal, and Bidco United closely trailing. With only two points separating these five teams, a victory in their last match guarantees safety, with Talanta facing a tough away match against Murang’a Seal, Rangers taking on Bandari, City Stars hosting Mathare United, and Bidco United going up against Sofapaka.
Upcoming Premier League matches this Sunday (all fixtures at 15:00 local time)
Bandari vs Posta Rangers – Mbaraki Sports Club
Nairobi City Stars vs Mathare United – Thika Stadium
Sofapaka vs Bidco United – Dandora Stadium
Muranga Seal vs FC Talanta – SportPesa Arena
Kakamega Homeboyz vs Tusker – Mumias Complex
AFC Leopards vs KCB – Kenyatta Stadium
Gor Mahia vs Kenya Police – Ulinzi Complex
Shabana vs Ulinzi Stars – Gusii Stadium
Kariobangi Sharks vs Mara Sugar – Utalii Grounds
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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