The defending champions of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League, Gor Mahia, have initiated their title defence with a hard-fought victory, marking their first win of the season after an initial setback. This triumph came in their second attempt.

In one of the three fixtures played on Saturday, September 2, 2023, K’Ogalo secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Ulinzi Stars at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, courtesy of Kevin Simiyu’s goal in the 29th minute.

A standout performance from offensive midfielder Austin Odhiambo, who controlled the midfield, ensured that Gor Mahia secured all three points and handed Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani his second defeat in as many matches as the head coach of Ulinzi Stars.

Odhiambo shared his insights into the match, saying the pitch conditions were not ideal for our usual style of play.

“We expected a tough game against Ulinzi Stars, of course. At their home ground, the pitch wasn’t good, we could not play the football we are used to playing. But we used the tactics of the coach to get a goal,” Odhiambo told Cape Media’s Lydia Maina.

Gor Mahia had previously played to a 1-1 draw against Sofapaka in their season opener. According to the 22-year-old midfielder, the match at the Ulinzi Sports Complex was a must-win encounter.

He explained, “Before the game, the coach told us that we had dropped three points against Sofapaka so we had to win this match because of the pressure of the fans. We are the champions so we had to win this match for us to start competing again at the top. It was a must-win.”

After two rounds of fixtures, Gor Mahia currently occupies the fourth position in the league standings with four points. Their next match will be at home against Nairobi City Stars on September 17, 2023.

In other matches of the afternoon, the debutants Murang’a Seal secured a 1-0 victory against Kakamega Homeboyz, while Tusker and Kariobangi Sharks played to a 1-1 draw.