In Argentina we have Boca Juniors and River Plate, in England Manchester United and Liverpool while in Spain it is Real Madrid against Barcelona .These are some of the world’s fiercest rivalries in football each with its own unique history as well as numerous glittering silverware to show for. In Kenya any time you talk about club football two names come to mind, AFC leopards and Gor Mahia.  As far as filling the stadium, a match up between these two teams is as good as when the national soccer team plays at home or during a good political rally. Both are community clubs with a huge fanatical following from their respective communities. Both teams have won 24 Kenyan league titles split right down in the middle with 12 a piece.

Whenever derbies take place anywhere in the world there is always a lot at stake for both clubs. Most players say they play their hearts out in such matches compared to other fixtures. Pride off course plays a huge part and in most cases they end up to be low scoring games. The last time these two teams met Gor Mahia won by a solitary goal to nil. Sadly, the match ended in a tragedy after 7 people died while dozens were injured in a stampede at the Nyayo national stadium as fans tried to force their way into the stadium without paying. This time round the organizers of the Kenyan version of the EL Classico have promised to put up more stringent measures to ensure the safety of players and fans a like. About 500 security officers will be deployed around and within the stadium while tickets are going to be made available day prior to the fixture.

Both sides are beaming with confidence promising their fans victory at ‘’all costs”. Come Sunday afternoon and the Nyayo national stadium will be a carnival of blue green and white, the dominant colors of the two most decorated teams in Kenya. Will it be Ingwe’s day or will K’ogallo take advantage of the huge home support and claw the leopard once again?

References:

Glorious chaos in Gor, AFC Leopards match of the season
Top 10 Soccer Club Rivalries of all Time
Deaths in Kenya football stampede