Two goals were just what Gor Mahia needed to down their closest rivals Sofapaka in Kisumu Gor Mahia all but sealed the 2018/19 Kenyan Premier League title with a vital 2-0 win over close challengers Sofapaka in a Kenyan Premier League match played on Sunday afternoon at Moi Stadium in Kisumu. Inform Sammy Onyango and Jacques Tuyisenge scored the important goals for K'Ogalo in the second half. The first half was largely balanced with both teams creating chances. Jacques Tuyisenge and Kenneth Muguna came close for the champions while Sofapaka’s chances fell to Eli Asieche, Dennis Odhiambo and John Avire. However the half ended barren. Eleven minutes into the second half, Gor Mahia went ahead through former Ulinzi Stars man, Samuel Onyango who latched onto a through ball from midfield before firing home. Article continues below Pistone Mutamba wasted a huge chance in the 73rd minute when he headed wide from a George Maelo cross from the right flank. The miss proved costly as Gor doubled their lead in the 77th minute through Jacques Tuyisenge. A quick counter-attack from K'Ogalo saw Francis Kahata set up Tuyisenge who went past the keeper and fired into an empty net to seal the win. Gor leads the table with 66 points, 10 more than second-placed Batoto Ba Mungu.<doc-sep>Jacques Tuyisenge and Nicholas Kipkirui to lead Gor Mahia against Sofapaka The outcome of the match between K'Ogalo and Batoto ba Mungu has been tipped to have a serious impact in the title race Hassan Oktay has paraded Gor Mahia’s starting eleven that will host Sofapaka at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Sunday. Jacques Tuyisenge has been passed fit to play against Batoto ba Mungu after sitting out the last league match against Chemelil Sugar. The Rwandan talisman will lead the attacking line-up alongside the current top scorer of the club, Nicholas Kipkirui. Samuel Onyango, who scored the solitary goal in the reverse fixture that won Gor Mahia the match, has maintained his position in the team. He will start on the right wing. The defensive department will be manned by Philemon Otieno at the right-flank while Geoffrey Ochieng will take charge at the opposite end. Joash Onyango and captain Harun Shakava will take their usual centre-back positions. Ernest Wendo has been deployed deep in midfield while Kenneth Muguna and Francis Kahata will play in advanced midfield positions. Article continues below Ugandan striker Erisa Ssekisambu and Francis Mustafa both drop to the bench. Gor Mahia XI: Frederick Odhiambo, Philemon Otieno, Geoffrey Ochieng, Joash Onyango, Harun Shakava, Ernest Wendo, Francis Kahata, Kenneth Muguna, Samuel Onyango, Nicholas Kipkirui and Jacques Tuyisenge. Subs: Shaban Odhoji, Wellington Ochieng, Joachim Oluoch, Bernard Ondiek, Boniface Omondi, Francis Mustafa and Erisa Ssekisambu.<doc-sep>History favours Gor Mahia as they tackle Sofapaka in KPL title decider The match pitting K’Ogalo against Batoto ba Mungu has been tipped as the showdown that will decide the destiny of the league As Gor Mahia and Sofapaka tussle for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) 2018/19 season title, the previous match statistics suggest that the former might have the last laugh at the end of May. The May 12 showdown at Moi Stadium in Kisumu might be the day the title will be won as K’Ogalo host Batoto ba Mungu. Sofapaka will need to work their magic in order to shrug off the poor record they have had against the 18-time Kenyan league champions. Gor Mahia are currently leading the 18-team KPL table on 63 points, seven more than second placed Sofapaka. Since 2010, Sofapaka have managed just two wins over Gor Mahia with the first one coming in 2014 and the second win in 2017. In 2014, a brace from Fiston Abdoul and another one from Ekaliano Ndolo helped Sofapaka beat Gor Mahia 3-2. Gor Mahia’s goals came from an own goal by Sofapaka’s Eugine Asike and a late one by Ugandan defender Geoffrey Kizito. In 2017, Ezekiel Okare and Timothy Luda were responsible for Sofapaka’s goals that sunk Gor Mahia 2-0. None of the players that assisted Batoto ba Mungu to win those two matches are still on the books with Sofapaka. Although the Green Army lost those two matches, they went on to win the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title in that season. K’Ogalo have managed a season double over Sofapaka only once in those 18 matches that stretch across the nine years. In 2013, Paul Kiongera powered Gor Mahia to a 1-0 win before another victory of the same margin was recorded in the second meeting and Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma was the scorer. Both Sserunkuma and Kiongera are no longer with the Green Army. The current league contestants have shared the spoils in a season only once; in a 0-0 draw in 2011 (both home and away). They both missed the title then as Tusker were crowned champions. Between 2010 and 2013, only five goals were scored in the seven fixtures involving the two rivals. The majority of those goals, four to be precise, were for Gor Mahia which they achieved with a 1-0 win in three matches. A result of 0-0 was recorded in the other three matches while one match ended with a 1-1 draw. That is where Sofapaka got their one goal in those three years of hard labour. A huge chunk of goals have been registered in the last two years (2017-2019) where 15 of them have been scored. Nine goals out of 15 have been for Gor Mahia while the remaining goals were for the Batoto ba Mungu side. The number of goals also reflects the Green Army’s superior record over Sofapaka because they have three wins in the five matches played in the two-year period. A 3-3 draw and a 2-0 win for the 2009 champions marks the other results between 2017 and 2019. In their ranks, Gor Mahia have assistant coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno who is familiar with the KPL, having played and coached in it. After retirement, ‘Zico’ had two coaching stints at Sony Sugar (2012 and in the 2013-2015 seasons) and has also overseen Posta Rangers in 2016. His first managerial job for Gor Mahia ended in 2010 when he took over the national team where he lasted for almost two years. Article continues below Sofapaka boasts John Baraza who led them to the 2009 KPL title. He has been serving as an assistant coach and succeeded Sam Ssimbwa when the Ugandan left the club in April 2018. Baraza was also the assistant coach to Melis Medo before the current Mount Kenya United coach was sacked, owing to poor results at the beginning of the season. Since then, Baraza has been in charge of the team fully as they keep their chase of the title that has eluded them for almost a decade.<doc-sep>
Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay: The title is now coming home after Sofapaka win K’Ogalo seem destined to retain the Kenyan Premier League crown after managing to bring down Batoto ba Mungu on Sunday Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay has admitted that his side are close to claiming a third successive Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title. K’Ogalo roared to a 2-0 win against closest challengers Sofapaka to take their lead at the summit of the 18-team KPL table to 10 points. Second half goals from Samuel Onyango and Rwandan striker Jacques Tuyisenge were enough to help Gor Mahia seal a double against Batoto ba Mungu. And speaking to Goal after the vital win at Moi Stadium in Kisumu, Oktay says the team is now within a touching distance of retaining the 2018/19 title. “We are almost there, we are very close to the title, very close but we must win our next two matches to be very sure. What I am very sure is that the next two wins will bring the trophy back home,” Oktay told Goal in an interview. “Honestly speaking, Sofapaka were the better side in the first half but after the pep talk during the break, my players turned the game around with exactly what I asked them to do. Article continues below “My players are very clever, I have very clever players in my squad and when I tell them what to do, I don’t have to repeat it again. "They follow instructions well and I don’t need to speak twice and that is how we managed to bring down Sofapaka." Gor Mahia will face Nzoia Sugar and AFC Leopards in their next two KPL matches, and will fancy their chances of winning the title against Ingwe.