On Sunday Gad Mathews Otieno stood tall between the posts for Gor Mahia as he saved two post-match penalties against AFC Leopards to help K’Ogalo lift the FKF Cup title, their first in nine years.Even before the post-match spot-kicks, the keeper had done well to thwart Leopards attacks denying Ingwe who were visibly the better side in the better part of the game.Gad did well to deny Isaac Kipyegon and Tsuma Said. Only Washington Munene scored his penalty as Gor won 4-1. This is after the match had ended in a barren draw in regulation time.Mathews joined the new FKF Cup champions in October 2020 from Kisumu Allstars and has worked his way up to become Gor Mahia’s first choice keeper. He started as Boniface Oluoch’s understudy before finally taking over from the veteran custodian. Gad Mathews the keeper ‘himselfu’ 👏👏#Sirkal | #Betsafe pic.twitter.com/Hs1Ivpi0ny— 🏆 – GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) July 4, 2021 Unknown to many, however, Gad should have been Leopards’ blue and white and not Gor Mahia’s green had Ingwe not opted against signing him after training with them for nearly a month.Gad trained with AFC Leopards in January 2020 with the expectation that he would be handed a contract by the 12-time league Champions. Ezekiel Owade was expected to exit the club when his contract expired in the end Leopards decided to hand the former Nakumatt man an extension and in the end, a dejected Gad had to leave for Kisumu All-Stars.A few months later he would join Gor Mahia where he has since displaced Oluoch to become the first-choice keeper at the club. Despite not starting the season as the preferred keeper, his recent form has been good and he has eight clean sheets to his name, three behind leader James Saruni of Ulinzi Stars and is firmly in the race for the golden glove.His name is Gad Mathews Otieno.Penalty taken by Tsuma SaidGor Mahia 🔥This was between Kisumu Day High School Alumni.#MashemejiDerby #Sirkal #FKFCupFinals pic.twitter.com/116YBQKCqt— Cleophas Oluoch 🇰🇪 (@cleophasoluoch) July 4, 2021 As Leopards faithful come to terms with cup defeat to their arch-rivals they may be wondering if the outcome of the game would have been different had they offered the former Palos, Western Stima, Kariobangi Sharks, Wazito FC and Kisumu Allstars man a deal.For Gad, he is finally living to the hype surrounding him. In 2016 he was rated as one of the top keepers in the country but playing for five clubs within four years had seen him labelled a journeyman and risked not fulfilling his full potential. He is now with the most successful club in the land and his fate is firmly in his hands.SPORTS: Hero Mathews defies Leopards as Gor clinch FKF Cup title.Gad Matthews saved two penalties to set Gor Mahia FC on path for a 4-1 shootout victory over derby rivals AFC Leopards during Sunday’s FKF Cup final at the Nyayo National Stadium.EmersonAisha JumwaPrison Break pic.twitter.com/v2TvIFzcPB— Wish Fm (@Wishfmradio) July 4, 2021
