Gor Mahia and Sofapaka have now met 35 times in league action since 2009, and if there’s one constant in this fixture, it’s this: Batoto Ba Mungu always come prepared… but usually leave humbled.
Back in 2009, Sofapaka entered the league with money, muscle, and big talk. Gor Mahia were still dusting themselves off, trying to remember how giants walk again. But even then, you could feel it, this was never going to be an easy ride for them.
Their first meeting on 4 April 2009 saw George Blackberry Odhiembo announce himself. The man scored, Sofapaka won 2–1, and they celebrated like they’d conquered Kasarani forever. Little did they know… that was as good as it would get. Gor returned the favour later that year, again through Blackberry, 1–0, message delivered. Yes, Sofapaka won the league that season, but the rivalry had been switched on 🔥.
From there, K’Ogalo took control. Ten straight league matches unbeaten. Five wins, five draws. Sofapaka tried everything, tactics, money, imports, but Gor Mahia just kept saying “hamtuvunji”.
Then came 23 October 2013. Kasarani. Title race. Pressure. And one man: Danny Sserunkuma. One goal. One swing of the boot. Sofapaka’s title dreams? Finished. Gor Mahia’s 18-year wait? Over. If you mention that goal around Green Army circles, people still smile.
2014 tried to add drama. Sofapaka edged Gor 3–2 in a heated match full of chaos and noise. They thought, “maybe this time?”
But football memory is short, and tables don’t lie. Sofapaka slipped when it mattered most, Gor Mahia finished strong in Kisumu, and the trophy stayed green and white. Story of the rivalry.
Fast forward to now, and the numbers are doing banter on our behalf:
- 11 matches unbeaten for Gor Mahia
- One more without defeat and we break our own record
- 21 clean sheets in 35 meetings (keepers vs Sofapaka deserve bonuses 😂)
- Sofapaka? Just 8 clean sheets. We knock, we enter.
Foreign players? Sofapaka brought many to the league, but in this fixture, Gor Mahia’s imports eat well.
Sserunkuma, Kagere, Tuyisenge, Aucho, Baba Kizito, Ulimwengu, Lwassa… and now Ebenezer Adu-Kwaw, the only man brave enough to score a brace against Batoto Ba Mungu. No hat-trick yet—but hope is dangerous 👀.
And don’t get it twisted, locals run this rivalry too. Sammuel Onyango sits top of the scoring charts with four goals. Blackberry follows with three. These are not just stats; these are receipts.
So as Gor Mahia and Sofapaka line up again, remember:
This fixture has history.
It has scars.
It has victims.
And more often than not, it ends with K’Ogalo smiling and Sofapaka explaining.
Game on.
K’OGALO NI STATE OF MIND 💚