By Anderson Ojwang
They say a promise is a debt, and true to the word, the mighty Gor Mahia are keeping their word to the departed patron.
Last year, in the leafy suburbs of Karen, at the last breakfast meeting, then former Prime Minister the late Raila Amolo Odinga asked the team for an honour by delivering the Premier League, regional, and continental trophies.
At that moment, the request looked momentous and out of reach, but Gor Mahia has lived up to its name.
Last season, when the league was almost slipping away to arch-rivals AFC Leopards, the mighty Gor Mahia rose to the occasion and kept the promise by delivering the trophy a record 22 times.
And after winning the league, the team presented the trophy to Raila’s widow, Ambassador Ida Betty Odinga, at the same venue where they had made the promise.
Gor Mahia have not stopped at the Premier League.
The semis cooked raw
What a sweet way for Gor Mahia to avenge the 2024 defeat at the hands of Al Hilal by 2-0 in the group stages.
Al Hilal went to the game seeded as possible winners after they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the CAF Championship.
That exposure, compactness, and technicality of the team gave them an undue advantage over Gor Mahia.
In an exciting and dramatic encounter, Gor prevailed over the Sudanese side Al Hilal.
Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi stood tall, saved one penalty to bring K’Ogalo back into the game, and scored the winning penalty. And now Gor Mahia are in the finals of the Cecafa Kagame Cup.
Decoy
Interestingly, a decoy game in which Gor lost to Rayon Sports FC during the exhibition match for Rayon Day at the Amahoro Stadium.
Gor Mahia and Rayon have played a few games, with the latter holding an upper hand.
On July 18th, 2026, Rayon Sports beat Gor Mahia 2-0 in a friendly match, while on August 19th, 2018, Gor lost to Rayon 2-1 in the CAF Confederation Cup, and on July 29th, 2017, Rayon and Gor drew 2-2 in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The final now provides the two teams with the opportunity for the trophy and the bragging rights. For Rayon, they must avenge Gor Mahia’s disrespect to their President Paul Kagame after the mighty K’Ogalo mauled APR 5-0 in front of the President.
For Gor Mahia, they have a date to fulfil the promise to Raila ahead of October 15th, the first anniversary.
Husband of teams
The false, fake, and pretenders to the throne – Uganda’s Vipers, who claimed the title of husband of teams – found the title too heavy to carry and surrendered it to the rightful owner.
The pretenders found their poison harmless and crawled back to Kampala unannounced.
Now they recognise the true husband of teams to be the mighty Gor Mahia K’Ogalo.
What was said
Patron Eliud Owalo wrote: “Well done K’Ogalo. We have made it to the finals. Gor Mahia 8, Al Hilal 7. A repeat of Sudan 1985 is now in sight.”
FKF President Hussein Mohammed wrote: “Congratulations to Gor Mahia FC on your hard-fought victory against Al-Hilal and advancing to the CECAFA Kagame Cup finals. You have done the nation proud so far. We stand behind you and wish you success as you go for the championship.”
Former AFC Chairman Dr Dan Shikanda wrote: “Congratulations to this Nairobi-based team… You have issued a statement, well received!”
Football Kenya Federation wrote: “Scenes we love to see at full time! K’Ogalo nyamridhi!”
Shabana USA left with rotten eggs in the face
Before the match, Shabana USA walked into unfamiliar waters and were left with rotten eggs in their face.
Kenyans, more so Gor Mahia fans, are advised to lower their expectations.
“Hiyo team ya Sudan si rahisi hivyo.”
All in all, let’s cross our fingers and wish our own a win today. Kenyans for Kenyans. Kenya milele. Gor Mahia kichwa.
At 4pm today, the self-proclaiming husband of teams, aka Nyamridhi, is set to make the country proud or otherwise.
After the game
Congratulations Gor Mahia. It went as we said. See you at the finals.
