AFC Leopards defender Kennedy Owino has vowed to challenge Gor Mahia in the upcoming Mashemeji derby this weekend. Owino, optimistic about a positive outcome, anticipates a significant match against Gor Mahia on Sunday.
The Leopards aim to disrupt Gor Mahia’s championship pursuit in the next Mashemeji derby after a 2-0 defeat in last September’s corresponding match.
This derby marks Owino’s first experience in this rivalry, and he is particularly motivated having scored the decisive goal in Ingwe’s recent 1-0 victory over his former team, Posta Rangers. “We have the Derby on Sunday, and you know it’s the biggest game in the country,” Owino stated on the Leopards’ website.
“Preparations began right after the Posta Rangers match. We once again call on all our fans to come and support us. We are committed to performing well. I’m eagerly looking forward to my first Mashemeji Derby,” he added.
Since his midseason transfer from Posta Rangers, Owino has quickly won over the Leopards fans. His recent goal not only ended Ingwe’s two-game losing streak but also set him up to further endear himself with a strong showing against Gor Mahia. “I didn’t expect to score against my former team, but I had to seize the moment and open my account at the Den. We made a promise to our fans, and we delivered. We hope to maintain this momentum until the end of the season,” he remarked.
The Mashemeji derby was rescheduled to Sunday at the Nyayo Stadium after initially being planned for Saturday, due to the Kip Keino Classic occurring at Nyayo on Saturday and renovations at Kasarani making it unavailable.
The possibility of holding the match at the 8,000-seat Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos was considered but met with fan concerns over safety due to the intense nature of the derby, leading to the change in date.
