When Ze Maria joined Gor Mahia in March 2016 after the departure of Frank Nuttall, he introduced an engaging football philosophy: enjoy the ball without pressure. Beating arch-rivals AFC Leopards felt effortless under his leadership.
In his brief time with Gor Mahia, Ze built a progressive and resilient team, setting a solid foundation that made it seamless for future coaches to take charge at K’Ogalo, right through to 2020.
The few remaining players from Ze’s squad include Captain Philemon Otieno, Ernest Wendo, Assistant Captain Geoffrey Ochieng’, and Boniface Oluoch, who now serves as the goalkeeper coach.
Confident in their skills, the progressive team that Ze created, under new coach Dylan Kerr, once formed a reserve squad nicknamed “Wakulima.” They felt their supporters were growing weary of watching AFC Leopards lose repeatedly and wanted to add some excitement to the game.
Wakulima displayed remarkable confidence when they triumphed over AFC Leopards 2-0 at the iconic Kasarani Stadium during the Dylan Kerr era (2018), delighting both sets of supporters. Goals from Boniface Omondi and Bernard Ondiek not only secured K’Ogalo another league title but did so in spectacular fashion—defeating their arch-rival was a moment of pure ecstasy for the fans.
The genesis of the Wakulima squad traces back to when K’Ogalo emerged as a dominant force in African football, inspiring fear in even the most formidable teams in Africa. This marked a season when the players frequently envisioned competing in the prestigious CAF Continental League, all under the watchful eye of the audacious Coach Dylan Kerr.
With a touch of nostalgia, the former Team Manager Jolawi Obondo reminisced about how the name “Wakulima” came to be.
“We were navigating a whirlwind of intense local and continental fixtures, struggling to maintain equilibrium within our squad. After playing 10 KPL games and more in the CAF Confederation, we knew we had to innovate,” Jolawi shared, his eyes sparkling with memories.
“We had just faced USM Alger at home with a barren draw and were about to embark on the daunting journey to Algeria for the second leg. Yet, looming before us were crucial home games against Sofapaka in Narok and the AFC Leopards at Kasarani,” he continued, his voice laced with the tension of those days.
While en route to Narok, the team found themselves engaged in a lighthearted yet serious debate about strategy. Their coach meticulously crafted a line-up, his mind occupied with the risks posed by the poorly maintained Narok stadium and the risk of losing key first-team players to injuries before the CAF return leg.
“Coach Kerr was both daring and inspiring. He chose to take a gamble by fielding mainly reserve players, except Karim Nzigiyimana, who had recently recovered from an injury,” the former Team Manager recalled.
As the team warmed up, the Sofapaka players looked on in disbelief at their unfamiliar opponents stretching before them. The team was captained by the spirited Innocent Wafula and included the following players: goalkeeper Fredrick Odhiambo, defenders Kharim Nzigiyimana, Joachim Oluoch, Charles Momanyi, and Wesley Onguso, along with midfielders Cercidy Okeyo Okeyo and Benard Ondiek, and forwards Lawrence Juma, Samuel Onyango, and Eliud Lokuwam.
Sofapaka’s head coach, John Baraza, brazenly proclaimed during the warm-up session that his team would easily dismantle Gor Mahia. Little did he realize that by the end of the match, his squad would be slinking away, having been humbled by a 3-0 defeat.
Gor Mahia players responded to Baraza’s bravado with unyielding determination, boldly asserting that they were ready to “lima saitan” out of Sofapaka. Each goal they scored ignited celebrations that transformed the pitch into a symbolic sugarcane ploughing session, with gestures representing the hard labour and joyous harvest that followed.
The name Wakulima quickly became a rallying cry for every fan who attended the Narok game, enveloping the atmosphere in an electric sense of camaraderie and pride. Coach Kerr recognized the unique spirit of the reserve squad, empowering them to embrace any challenge that lay ahead.
With a triumphant return to Nairobi, the highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby approached, a clash charged with historical significance and competitive fervour. With just one victory needed to secure another title and extend their bragging rights, Coach Kerr once again orchestrated a brilliant psychological manoeuvre against their rivals, AFC Leopards, at Kasarani.
“It seemed AFC Leopards learned nothing from our encounter with the disciplined Sofapaka in Narok,” Team Manager Obondo remarked, recalling the tension before the match.
“On this day, as we prepared for the USMA match in Algiers, the coach played with their minds. He sent out a familiar starting eleven for warm-ups, leading AFC Leopards to question our tactics,” Obondo continued a hint of mischief in his voice.
“When the regular Gor Mahia players left the field just before the actual warm-up began and Wakulima stepped in, confusion enveloped the AFC Leopards. They couldn’t fathom Gor Mahia underestimating them in such a manner,” he added, chuckling at the memory.
Feeling insulted yet eager to break their long-standing losing streak against K’Ogalo since March 2016, AFC Leopards were caught off guard when the match commenced. Wakulima’s performance electrified the stadium, as K’Ogalo fans could feel the weight of their shared history in every play.
Goals from Boniface Omondi and Bernard Ondiek echoed through the stands, each followed by the joyous Wakulima celebration, sending AFC Leopards spiralling into embarrassment. The reserve team clinched another KPL title in style, sealing the game with a 2-0 victory over their rivals.
Perhaps one day, the legacy of the Wakulima squad from 2018 will be immortalized within the storied annals of K’Ogalo’s rich history, a testament to unity, resilience, and the magic of football.