Gor Mahia assistant coach Kobi Bismarck Mensah has openly admitted that the club’s recent struggles in front of goal remain their biggest concern ahead of the highly anticipated 99th Mashemeji Derby against AFC Leopards.
K’Ogalo head into the weekend sitting at the summit of the 25/26 SportPesa League table with 58 points, but their grip on the title race has weakened in recent weeks.
A run of three consecutive matches without a win featuring goalless draws against Kariobangi Sharks and Bandari FC, as well as a 1-0 defeat to Tusker FC, has seen K’Ogalo’s lead over AFC Leopards cut to just three points.
What is even more concerning for the technical bench is the lack of goals, with Gor Mahia failing to find the back of the net in those three fixtures.
Their last victory came in an important 2-1 win over Shabana and since then, attacking efficiency has noticeably dropped.
Gor Mahia brace for crucial Mashemeji Derby
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash at Nyayo Stadium, Mensah did not shy away from addressing the issue, terming it as a major worry for the team.
“It is a very difficult game and a big game as well, and per our situation we have not been able to win in three games and not even scored in three games, that is a very big worry for us,” he said.
“We have started preparing towards the Sunday game. For now, we are focusing on improving in so many areas and also working on a more tactical approach to the game,” he revealed.
The assistant coach emphasized that preparation will be key, noting that the technical bench has already studied their opponents in detail.
“We have seen AFC Leopards, we know their strength, we know their weakness, so I believe that for now we just have to focus on preparation and maybe by Friday or Saturday morning the boys will be ready for the game,” he offered.
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Mensah further highlighted the mental and physical demands that come with a derby of such magnitude, insisting that readiness in all aspects will determine the outcome.
“It’s one game that you need mental toughness, you need confidence, you need to be ready physically in terms of strength, in terms of stamina.
Tactically you need to be ready, it is a game that any player would want to play, but again the players have to be ready. If you aren’t ready you wouldn’t show up so well,” he offered.
The memory of the first leg defeat still lingers in the Gor Mahia camp. They lost 1-0 to AFC Leopards courtesy of Julius Masaba’s strike, with that result largely shaped by a slow start.
Mensah pointed to the opening minutes of that encounter as a critical lesson the team must learn from.
“Our last game that we played (against AFC Leopards), which was also our first derby, we experienced something especially in the first ten minutes, it was not good for us,” he explained.
“When you sit down and talk about it, you can say that maybe mentally the players were not ready. Their readiness to start the game well was so crucial. AFC Leopards started very well, so coupled with so many things that we think we need to work on, I can tell you that we will be ready on Sunday,” he said.
With just six matches left before the end of the season, the stakes could not be higher.
Head coach Charles Akonnor and his assistant will be hoping to guide Gor Mahia to their first derby win of the campaign, a result that could prove decisive in the title race.
Sunday’s clash is not just about pride, but a defining moment for both clubs in their quest to lift the 25/26 SportPesa league crown.