All the noise, all the hype, all the chest-thumping and what did we get? Absolutely nothing.
The so-called *Nyanza Derby* fizzled into a forgettable 0–0 snoozefest as Shabana once again failed to lay a glove on Gor Mahia at Gusii Stadium on Sunday, January 11. Home fans came in numbers, voices ready, drums beating, but left with the same old story: no win, no bragging rights, no breakthrough.
If this was meant to be war, then both sides turned up with water pistols.
Gor Mahia arrived in Kisii talking big after their last visit, but on the pitch they looked blunt, slow, and short of ideas. K’Ogalo huffed, puffed, passed sideways and prayed, but never truly threatened Stephen Ochieng’s goal. Even the debut of Jackson Dwang, thrown in early after Ben Stanley Omondi’s injury, failed to spark the champions into life.
Yes, Dwang had the best chance, bursting down the left and forcing Ochieng into a save, but for a club chasing titles, that was nowhere near enough. A point might have kept Gor Mahia marginally ahead of AFC Leopards on goal difference, but performances like this won’t scare anyone.
As for Shabana, the hunger was there, the intent was there, but the finishing? Missing. Again.
Humphrey Obina rattled the crossbar with a monster free kick in the 21st minute and had Gusii on its feet, but luck refused to smile. Kevin Omundi and Bronson Nsubuga had their moments after the break, only to be denied by Gad Mathews, who was making his first start of the season after Bryne Omondi was ruled out late.
And when Wycliffe Omondi wasted two golden chances late on, you just knew it wasn’t going to be Shabana’s day.
Credit where it’s due: the match went on peacefully. a massive improvement from last time — but football-wise, this was a letdown. Ninety minutes, plenty of sweat, zero goals, zero winners.
Shabana remain cursed against K’Ogalo — five games, no wins since promotion — while Gor Mahia sneak away with a point they barely deserved.
Big stage. Big crowd. Big expectations.
**Small football.**