There is a song in the wind being heard at a distance that arch-rival AFC Leopards stands a chance this season to not only overturn K’Ogalo undisputed bragging rights but also with the FKF Premier League title.
This has been occasioned by the good run they have had from the beginning of this season, convincingly winning all the games they have played against the hardest teams in the FKFPL.
The Ingwe side have won against Tusker FC, Sofapaka and newly promoted Bidco FC.
Shemeji as K’Ogalo call them, have gone through turmoil and straining transmission process with the last landing them to the management team headed by former Gor Mahia player Dan Shikanda.
But even within the positive progress circle, AFC has faced challenges with the latest event of their head coach Tomas Trucha resigning from alleged threats by some of its fans.
With all that said and done, the usual banter has once again re-surfaced. AFC fans are daring to have the “Mashemeji” derby as soon as possible, a demand that can trigger a new set of discussion away from the FKF and ‘rebel teams” turtle over broadcast right.
But is Ingwe ready for the big match watched over the entire World. As both followers believe that derby has no form and even a weaker side can carry the day.
The last time Ingwe outplayed K’Ogalo was on March 6th, 2016. A day the then K’ogalo head coach Frank Nuttall sneaked out of the country and never to be seen again. It was a day their former forward and now Gor Mahia FC best player in current times Clifton Miheso donned red-black striped Jersey.
From K’Ogalo former head coach Ze Maria to Steven Pollack, Ingwe has never tasted any victory, going down at every game against K’Ogalo.
It is taking a tall order and hunger for the well-known opponent is again germinating with some fresh belief that this time around it can happen.
K’Ogalo on the other hand is struggling to coordinate its playing unit, but winning as their normal norm and mentality makes them more used to the game. They have played two continental games and emerged victorious (4-2 aggregate against APR of Rwanda), enabling them to move to the next phase of the CAF Champions League where they will face Algerian side Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad in Algers on 22nd this December.
Their first league match of the season saw K’ogalo win by a solitary goal against the Army side – Ulinzi Stars on Kenyan Jamhuri – 12th December 2020 and newly renovated Nyayo Stadium.
But the excitement of Ingwe towards their arch-rival has been their normal practice, whether K’Ogalo can relinquish the bragging right this time depends on the day after BetKing verdict is validated after the real battle.
As the banter begins, K’Ogalo is a bit busy on the continental assignment and waiting for the timetable to indicate the event date.