Tension as Gor Mahia and Kariobangi Sharks renew rivalry in FKF Cup quarterfinals

Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are plotting a revenge mission on ambitious upstart Kariobangi Sharks when the top-flight clubs clash in Thursday afternoon's quarterfinal of the FKF Cup at Utalii Grounds.

Kariobangi Sharks have sort of inscribed their name in this competition over the past 4 seasons, including winning it in 2018 and dumping Gor Mahia out in 2018 at the quarterfinal in the process.

Political animosity between Sharks owner Nick Mwendwa and long serving Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier also fuels tensions whenever the two teams meet. With Sharks' league fortunes dropping rapidly with two back to back loses, a route into continental football through the FKF Cup presents William Muluya's best chance of asserting the team's lofty ambitions.

The 1987 Mandela Cup winners are under intense pressure to overcome Sharks and match age-old rivals AFC Leopards who already booked their semis berth on Wednesday. Lagging seven points behind Tusker in the league with continental door slamming in twenty days, K'Ogalo are casting their net wide.

Coach Vaz Pinto is eager to end an 8-year cup drought for Gor Mahia, insisting that every game is important for K'Ogalo.

“I look forward to the next game always and the next game is to win if we are in this Cup our goal is to win. For me, all games are important if it’s Cup if it league they are all important because of that we look to win this Cup,” said Pinto.

Wherever Joachim Oluoch will be for Gor Mahia, either in the starting eleven or on the bench, the events of Sunday, September 2, 2018, will be fresh in his mind. He will not be wishing a repeat of the same. He was among the two who missed their spot kicks for K'Ogalo as they were eliminated at the same stage, but the only player still at Gor with Bernard Ondiek having left for Posta Rangers.

Gad Matthews, on the other hand, will be hoping that he can replicate a similar performance on that day, but now with a different club.

The custodian is confident that Gor Mahia can outwit his former club and storm into the semifinal.

“I’m very confident we can win the cup because we have capable players in the squad and we can also go ahead to retain the league, we have had a very good run in the past couple of games,” Gad told Mozzart Sport

Sharks have been dealt another injury blow after defender Boniface Onyango was ruled out for weeks with a fracture on his face, joining Eric Kapaito on the treatment table.

“Bonface Onyango suffered a Supraorbital fracture on the right side of his face after sustaining a trauma in training. He is set to miss the better part of the second leg,” read a statement from the club.

This comes barely days after the William Muluya side received a shot in the arm with the return to full training of two defenders, right back Fredrick Alushula and lanky centre back John Kuol.