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Gor smiling all the way to bank
Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO/NATION Gor Mahia midfielder Collins "Gattuso" Okoth celebrates their first goal during their Kenya Premier league match against AFC Leopards on July 24, 2011 at Nyayo Stadium. Gor Mahia won 3-1.
By SAMMY KITULA skitula@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, July 25 2011 at 18:59
Gor Mahia raked in close to Sh5.6 million in gate collection in addition to their Sunday afternoon derby with AFC Leopards providing the most entertaining encounter in many years.
Ticket Masters, which mans the gates during Gor's home matches, said the income was the club's highest in more than a decade.
Its operations manager, George Ocholla, said this was the first time a Kenyan Premier League club had earned such a huge amount from ticket sales.
"This is a good trend in our club football. During last year's derby in October, Sh2.5 million was raised, surpassing an earlier record of Sh1.5 million set by K'Ogalo against Sofapaka FC a month before," said Ocholla.
According to figures released by the company, 2,997 VIP tickets were sold, each at Sh500, as were 20,487 for the terraces, each retailing at Sh200.
That the two teams have the largest fanbase in the country was not in doubt. Nyayo National Stadium, the venue, was divided into two and the halves were equally filled up with fans.
The Kenyan "El Classico" lived up to its billing not only in terms of attendance but also organisation and security. Nothing was left to chance as 300 police officers were on standby.
The 3pm kick-off provided a feast of entertainment for the crowd and it was Gor Mahia's head coach, Zedekiah "Zico" Otieno, who took the points.
A lot was expected of – and promised by – Leopards Dutch head coach Jan Koops and the players.
The fans were asked to be at the 35,000-seater stadium and give the team a volcanic reception. Ingwe were to give a fightback that K'Ogalo could not sustain. They did not.
For the first five minutes Leopards looked likely to score and it seemed that the game would go in their favour.
Midfielder Bernard Mang'oli's fierce volley was kept out by the crossbar and just three minutes after that the tide changed as Gor duo of Duncan Makori and Edwin Lavatsa kept their markers busy. Leopards' free-flowing football did not come out again.
Work on mental strength
Zico's tactics were spot-on. Before he limped away with a knee injury, Collins Okoth and Kevin Omondi held the midfield and the team's shape, allowing Moses Otieno and Hadji Mwachoki to support the twin-striking arsenal of Lavatsa and latest acquisition Wycliffe Ochomo.
And with the pace of attacking fullback Solomon Nasio, K'Ogalo had a compact, dangerous counter-attack system. No wonder that flattering 3-1 result.
"We need to work a lot on our mental strength to stay strong to the end of the 90 minutes," noted Zico. "We started losing balls easily after our third goal. We need to hold possession to the end."
"Derby Part II" is set for September 18 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, closed for more than a year for renovation by Chinese contractors. Its managers, Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB), indicated it will be ready.
Teams –
Gor Mahia: Frederick Onyango, Solomon Nasio, Collins Omondi, Musa Mohammed, Eric Masika, Collins Okoth (Anthony "Teddy" Akumu, 30'), Kevin Omondi (Duncan Makori, 72'), Moses Otieno, Hadji Mwachoki, Edwin Lavatsa, Wycliffe Ochomo (Demonde Selenga, 59');
AFC Leopards: Barnabas Tiema: Edwin Wafula, Collins Kisuya, Jonas Amboko, Jonas Nahimana, Nicholas Muyoti, captain (Abraham Cokie, 46'), Bernard Mang'oli, Charles Okwemba, Francis Chinjili (Paul Odhiambo, 57'), Jimmy Bageya (Brian Masiolo, 72'), Mike Barasa
http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/foot...o+bank+/-/1102/1207630/-/a6n9s8z/-/index.html