Gor Mahia will seek to preserve their unbeaten record as they take on Posta Rangers in a top of the table clash in the FKF Premier League on Saturday.
K’Ogalo lead the standings with 34 points with Posta second on 29 and can open up an eight-point gap over the mailmen with victory at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
Posta were the early season pacesetters as they occupied top spot for the better half of the first leg but a poor run in November and December, when they won just two of their eight games, coupled with Gor Mahia’s run of five victories and three draws over that period, saw the champions overtake them.
Now, Posta will be hoping to begin the second leg with a win to reduce the gap to two points but they face a daunting task against a Gor Mahia team that have not tasted defeat in 16 matches so far.
Gor have also been hard to break down in the last three months, conceding four goals in 12 matches, a run that includes nine clean sheets, while scoring 14, which makes Posta’s work difficult.
Posta also proved a hard nut to crack early in the season before their poor run and will not be pushovers given their statistics mirror Gor Mahia’s.
John Kamau’s men have scored 20 goals, one less than Gor, and conceded nine, which makes them the second best defence after K’Ogalo’s seven.
It therefore sets up a mouth-watering game as both teams are not afraid to attack and also know how to shut out their opponents.
The meetings between the two teams have been an equal affair as either side have two wins apiece in their last five meetings.
Last season, K’Ogalo won 2-0 away before the return leg ended 2-2 which gives Posta hope of ending Gor Mahia’s unbeaten run.
While they have not lost, Gor Mahia have not been at their brilliant best even when winning as unconvincing displays against Kariobangi Sharks, Bandari and Muhoroni Youth, coupled with a 2-2 draw with basement side Nzoia Sugar when they had to come from two goals down show that they have weaknesses that their opponents can capitalise on.
However, the fact that they have been undeterred even when not playing well and the comeback against Nzoia also show the mental strength that Johnathan McKinstry’s men possess which will play a large part on Saturday.