By Anderson Ojwang
This Sunday at Nyayo Stadium, there will be no chants of Baba, Baba, Agwambo, no shoving, pulling, and pushing to give way for Fan 001 into the main terrace. The excitement that was usually witnessed with his arrival will be replaced by a somber mood and grief over his recent departure and the billboard.
Outside the stadium stands a huge billboard with a photo of the late Raila Amollo Odinga waving, which may be his last presence at Kenya’s Mashemeji Derby.
His boyhood club Gor Mahia, of which he was a patron for decades, will have the opportunity to repay the faith he had in the team, which he even hosted for a breakfast meeting and to whom he donated Sh10M before he travelled to India for medical treatment.
It will be up to Gor Mahia to give their best and display the best game that suits the last honor and respect to the departed patron.
For the first time, and now moving into the future, the Mashemeji Derby will feel the absence of the Enigma.
This Sunday, the first Mashemeji Derby post–Raila Amolo Odinga, is a derby to celebrate the icon and the Enigma. It will be a double header, the first time in history, as Gor Mahia Queens and AFC Leopardess open the day with an FKF Women’s National Super League fixture at noon before making way for the men’s derby.
The billboard will spice the game as its presence will evoke memories of the hero while inviting and saluting the fans and the players, making his presence felt during the game.
It will be a moment to give honor to the departed legend, and that is why apart from the game, it will be spiced by music from two local artists from Luoland and Luhya land.
Gor Mahia wrote on their X handle, “The Derby. Double the Vibe for Mashemeji Derby. Joining Musa Jakadala for Sunday’s match-day entertainment is Harry Richie of the iconic song Vaida, omwana inyanya, omwana mabhere, omwana indumbu.”
Gor Mahia’s new Harambee Stars call-up Bryton Onyona said the preparation for the game was on and that they have to win after losing the previous game against Bomet AP.
“We are working well; let the fans fight their war in the stands as we fight ours on the pitch. It is a derby and the pressure is always there, and we are keeping our heads high. We want to claim our stake at the log, and that is why we must win,” he said.
Heading into the derby, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have played 20 games since 2016. Among them, Gor Mahia have won 12 games, drawn seven times, while AFC Leopards have only won once.
Gor Mahia patron Eliud Owalo had an engagement with the Gor Mahia FC Council of Branch Chairmen.
He wrote on his X handle, “Ahead of this weekend’s Mashemeji Derby, I have this evening held a meeting with the chairmen of Gor Mahia FC branches. We look forward to a derby like no other.”
