Gor Mahia, the record champions with 21 league titles, were aiming for a third consecutive championship after winning the previous two seasons. However, Kenya Police FC made history by clinching their first-ever title with a game to spare. Needing just a point in their penultimate match against Shabana, Police secured a 1-0 victory to reach an unassailable 64 points, ending Gor Mahia’s dominance in the league. Police finished the season with 18 wins, 10 draws, and five losses.
Gor Mahia’s season was marred by inconsistency, and their title defense looked uncertain from the very beginning. The team experienced a rollercoaster of results, leading to the dismissal of Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva after only six league matches. Despite starting the season with a 4-0 win against Mathare United and a 3-0 victory over Posta Rangers, Gor Mahia struggled with draws and losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Nairobi City Stars and a 2-0 loss to Bandari FC. These poor results led to the appointment of Zedekiah Otieno and Michael Nam as interim coaches.
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By the time Kenya Police were crowned champions, Gor Mahia had accumulated 58 points, six points behind the new champions. The team recorded 16 wins, 10 draws, and seven losses. In the previous season, when Gor Mahia won the title with 73 points, they had only lost three matches.
Gor Mahia Disappointed They ‘Couldn’t Achieve Objective’
Zedekiah Otieno, a former Harambee Stars defender, attributed Gor Mahia’s failure to their hectic schedule during the title race. “We gave it our best, but it was challenging,” Otieno told yallaliveonline.com. “We played back-to-back matches, including eight games in 21 days, which was tough. While we’re disappointed, we have a strong team and hope to come back stronger next season.”
Gor Mahia Media
With the league title out of reach, Gor Mahia’s only hope for silverware is the FKF Cup final against Nairobi United, a team recently promoted to the Premier League. “We want to end the season on a high and prepare for the FKF Cup final,” Otieno added. “Winning the cup is now our main focus.”
Captain Philemon Otieno echoed these sentiments, urging fans to support the team in their final match. “We need our fans’ backing. Let’s finish strong and prepare for the cup final,” he said.
Kenya Police will be officially crowned champions on June 22nd, with the FKF presenting them with the new trophy after their match against Gor Mahia at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
2024/25 Premier League Concludes on Sunday
Meanwhile, the battle to avoid relegation intensifies as the season draws to a close. Five teams in the 18-team league are still at risk, with FC Talanta, Posta Rangers, Nairobi City Stars, Murang’a Seal, and Bidco United separated by just two points. Their final matches will determine their fate.
Rangers’ coach Sammy Omollo expressed confidence in his team’s ability to survive. “It’s a tight race, but we’ll do everything to win,” he told yallaliveonline.com.
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