Gor Mahia Football Club

Gor Mahia Football Club is one the most successful and popular football clubs in East Africa. Its rich history and highly passionate fans are deeply rooted and have been an ever-present theme in Kenyan football. This amazing club is based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and has passed over numerous hurdles since its formation on February 17th 1968 to become not only the most successful club in East Africa in terms of league titles but also the only club that has a commanding fan-base similar to those seen in football powerhouses such as Boca Juniors, Manchester United and Redstar Belgrade, among others. This article, therefore, takes an in-depth look at the driving force behind Gor Mahia Football Club and its deeply rooted culture and originality.

Gor Mahia Football Club came to existence as a result of the amalgamation of two football clubs that had their roots in the Western part of Kenya. These two clubs were Luo Stars Football Club and Luo Union Football The club, which came to existence in the mid-1950s when Kenya was still a British colony. The amalgamation of these two teams, which led to the formation of Gor Mahia, was as a result of the new government's directive that each province in Kenya should only be represented in the national league by one club. It was after several meetings and consultations that the two clubs merged to form Gor Mahia, which is now one of the powerhouses of Kenyan football.

Just after its formation, Gor Mahia organized its first match against a club from neighbouring country Uganda. This match commanded an extremely large crowd that it was decided that the club should embark on a major promotional tour to help raise money for its matches at both the national and international matches. The club's first international match was in an Africa Cup competition where they played Burri Football Club from Khartoum Sudan. Despite winning the first leg 4-2 in Sudan, the club lost its second leg in Nairobi; thus were bundled out of the competition in the early stages. In fact, this was the beginning of a peculiar tradition in the club's history in which they have the norm of playing better in away matches compared to their home matches.

It was during the 1970s that Gor Mahia, or rather K'Ogalo as it is famously referred to by its loyal and enchanting fans won its first national championship. This came at the backdrop of an unbeaten run and the prowess of its player-coach, Allan Thigo. Nevertheless, this amazing club reached its first final in the famous African Cup Winners' Cup where they were overwhelmingly beaten by Canon Yaoundé from Cameroon. This was to be later overturned almost a decade later in 1987 when Gor Mahia become the first and only Kenyan club to lift the African Cup Winners' Cup, which by this time was popularly known as the Mandela Cup. It was also during the 1980s that Gor Mahia won its most national championships at the expense of its arch-rival AFC Leopards.

Even though Gor Mahia did not witness much success in the mid 1990s due to financial difficulties, the club managed to win another national championship in 1998 that was followed with back to back titles in 2013 and 2014. This fate not only elevated the club's status among its fans but also cemented the clubs status as the most successful club in Kenyan football with a total of 14 league titles.

AFC Leopards

 Abaluhya Football Club, famously known as the AFC Leopards or rather Ingwe to its adoring fans is one of the most successful and oldest clubs in the Kenyan Premier League. Since its formation in 1964, AFC Leopards has been a joy to watch with its mesmerizing style of play, which has been the basis of its 13 league titles, a feat only bettered by its arch-rival Gor Mahia. This amazing club has been a major powerhouse in Kenyan football and is said to be full of potential of becoming one of the best clubs in the African continent.

Deeply-Rooted Quality Football

Even though AFC Leopards is not yet close to the calibre of amazing world football clubs such as F.C Barcelona or Ajax Amsterdam, which are known for their top-notch quality football, it is a club that is known for its tradition of playing football of the highest quality. This brand of football and its mission of elevating itself as a closely-knit community football club has been the main driving force in the history of AFC Leopards. Originally formed with its main background in Western Kenya, AFC Leopards has been for many years based in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. Its home stadium of Nyayo Stadium, which is a 30,000 seat capacity, has always brought joy to its adoring football fans every other weekend. It is the acts and loyalty of the club's adoring fans that have been the main force behind the large interests that the club draw not only in Kenya but also in the entire African continent, as well as the whole world.

The Most Successful Decade

Without doubt, AFC Leopards was the most successful club in the 1980s in the Kenyan Premier League. It won an unprecedented 6 titles in a decade that was the club's best. This was after winning another five titles in the 1960s and the 70s. These successful periods were followed by a trophy drought decade in the 1990s when the club won only two league titles, contrary to the club's performance in previous years. However, the darkest moment in the club's rich history came in 2008 when AFC Leopards had to play in the lower tier of Kenyan football after being relegated.

Cup Competitions

In terms of African Cup Competitions, AFC Leopards has not been successful in lifting the trophy. The club's furthest advance in the tournament was the semi-final exit some 25 years ago. This failure on the big stage has been a lingering dark moment in the club’s rich history with consolation coming in other cup competitions within Kenyan football.

Management Difficulties

As one of the known community-based football clubs in Kenya, AFC Leopards have faced numerous off-field problems in its long history. These problems do revolve around boardroom squabbles, which have led to numerous resignations of both board directors and other club officials. Perhaps, these squabbles are a result of lack of proper management within the club’s managerial structures. All in all, the love of the fans for their dear club has been the main tying bond that has enabled the club to stand the test of time and experience its level of success.

Tusker Football Club

 Tusker Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in the Kenyan Premier League. Since its formation in 1969, Tusker FC has been able to win 10 titles, a feat that is only surpassed by Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. Popularly known as the Brewers by its adoring fans, Tusker FC is successful not only on-field matters but also financially. Perhaps, this is based on its long association with the East African Breweries (a beer making company), which has been the club’s sponsors since its inauguration. In fact, it is this long association with the beer company that was behind its former name, Kenya Breweries, which was later changed to Tusker FC just before the turn of the millennium. This change of name was meant to promote a popular beer brand of the East African Breweries known as Tusker.

Championships

Three years after its formation, Tusker FC won its first major league title in the year 1972. An amazing feat for a young and ambitious club, this success was repeated 5 years later when the club won the historic back to back titles in the year 1977 and 1978. The 1980s were obviously the darkest period of this club as they went the entire decade without any title to their name. However, the end to this trophy drought came in 1994 when Tusker FC won its fourth title, a title which has been followed with six other titles in the last twenty years. This amazing title year has also been followed by four East African CECAFA cup titles, as well as 5 domestic cup titles. In terms of continental competitions, Tusker FC has been one of the lowest-performing teams from Kenya, which football analysts say is a projection of underdevelopment of the quality of football in Kenya.

Change of Stadium

For the better part of the club's footballing history, Tusker FC has not been able to command massive fan following as compared to their closest rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. They may be successful both in the field and financially compared to their nearest rivals, but lack of a major following in terms of the fan base has been a major handicap for this highly committed club. People close to the club noted that their former small stadium, the Ruaraka Sports Ground may have been among the reasons that contributed to this underachievement in terms of the fan base. Following these observations, that the club decided to relocate to Kinoru stadium, which is in the Eastern part of the country. The main reasoning behind this relocation, which took place in 2013 was to take advantage of the region, which lacked any established football club. 

The Club's Community Projects

As one of the financially stable clubs in Kenya, Tusker FC has over the years been involved in various community projects with the main purpose of improving the lives of Kenyans. The club's players led by its current captain Boniface Ambani, as well as head coach Francis Kimanzi, have been able to contribute some cash from their salaries to help the needy within the clubs surroundings. Such achievements have been instrumental in elevating the club's profile within football fans in Kenya, thereby becoming second-best club to almost every football fan in Kenya.

Kenyan Football Is Unique, Exciting and Fantastic

As a country, Kenya is one of the most football-loving nations in the world. Maybe not in the calibre of Brazil or Argentina, but without a doubt, a country with some of the most passionate football fans in the world. It is this passion for football that has been the main driving force behind Kenyan football and the sport of soccer itself.

In terms of national football, Kenya has been a member country of the football world governing body FIFA since 1960. The Kenyan football national team has not been very successful in international matches and have never appeared in any final FIFA world cup tournament. On the contrary, the national team has appeared in five African Cup of Nation tournaments.

Another exciting and fantastic part of Kenyan football is its club competition famously known as the Tusker Kenyan Premier League. This amazing league consists of 16 clubs and is one of the amazing ways that soccer fans in Kenya get to enjoy their football every weekend. You should visit Kenya in order to enjoy quality football.