By Anderson Ojwang
This Saturday is a special day for the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency in the Executive Office of the President, Mr. Eliud Owalo. This is the first game as the substantive chairman of Gor Mahia after the demise of the immediate former patron, Raila Amolo Odinga.
So, when the two of Kenya’s most successful teams, Gor Mahia and Tusker FC, meet, it’s either free flow of alcohol, premium tears or a deadlock.
For the mighty K’Ogalo, sipping Kenya’s favourite brand Tusker has always been the moment of joy, laughter and catching up after 90 minutes of successful work at the stadium.
And for Tusker, the revenge and witnessing premium tears flow from their bitter rival, Mighty K’Ogalo, is a cherished moment, for “Bia Yangu. Nchi Yangu (My Beer, My Country)”.
Gor Mahia and the Brewers have met 45 times with the Mighty K’Ogalo winning 19 matches while Tusker have won 11, and they have drawn 15. In all the games, goals have been flowing on average; in direct matches, both teams scored 1.56 goals per match.
In the last six matches Gor have played against Tusker, they have won three, drawn two and lost one, and that is why this Saturday, at Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, they go in as favourites while Tusker are the underdogs.
Currently, Gor Mahia are at the top of the log with 16 points from seven games, while Tusker lie seventh with 12 points from nine matches.
Gor Mahia have won 21 Kenya Premier League champion titles while Tusker follow them with 13 league champion titles.
For Gor Mahia, this match is a test to the newly appointed patron Mr. Eliud Owalo. This is the first game after the club’s chairman announced the official confirmation of Owalo as the patron.
Rachier, in a recent press release, said Owalo had been appointed as the substantive Gor Mahia patron.
He wrote: “Further to the press release dated 16th October 2015 by the club executive regarding the notification of assumption by the then club deputy patron, Eliud Owalo, as acting club patron.
This is to formally notify the general public, the football fraternity in general and the Gor Mahia Football Club members in particular and the Gor Mahia fans at large, that the club has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Eliud Owalo as the substantive club patron with effect from the first day of November 2025,”.
In November 2023, Owalo, then ICT Cabinet Secretary, bought Gor Mahia Football Club a state-of-the-art bus valued at Sh 20M.
“We would like to express our gratitude to Honourable Eliud Owalo and his associates for purchasing the club bus possible. The bus has been customised and has already been registered,” Rachier said then.
Gor Mahia wrote on the X handle: “This weekend’s clash against Tusker marks the 100th league meeting, the most-played fixture in Kenya’s top-flight league. Grab your ticket for Saturday’s tie.
A quiet weekend, but the view from the top is still ours. We face Tusker on Saturday at Kasarani Stadium,”
Tusker also hit back on their X handle: “Back to work at Ruaraka. Focus on Saturday’s assignment against Gor Mahia,”
The weekend game will be an appetizer for the Mashemeji Derby.
