Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and their eternal rivals AFC Leopards will on Wednesday 1 June 2022 highlight the Madaraka Day festivities being commemorated in the country as the two sides battle for bragging rights in a match set to be played in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Nyayo National Stadium.While the country will be celebrating the day Kenya attained internal self rule in 1963 after being a British colony since 1920, the two footballing powerhouses in the land will highlight the ceremony by squaring off against each other in the famous Mashemeji Derby.The match comes just over three weeks after K’Ogalo and Ingwe met on 5th May at Kasarani in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League game that was graced by the Head of State, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed among other dignitaries.1/2 President Uhuru Kenyatta follows football action at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi City County during Sunday’s Mashemeji derby between Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards. pic.twitter.com/8JlmmFzMCT— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) May 8, 2022 In that match that ended in a 1-1 draw, both sides are said to have pocketed a cool 12 million shillings each from the President who will be marking his last Madaraka Day celebrations.Despite being a friendly, the Madaraka Cup will be up for grabs for the winning side and both teams will be schemimg a way of walking home with the diadem likely to attract financial resources once again.Statistically, Gor has been the better of the two sides winning 31 games compared to Ingwe’s 27 in official league clashes with 33 ending in draws in 91 encounters.🟢 | NEXT MATCH Here we go… another derby before we close the season. We have a big one on Wednesday to celebrate Madaraka Day in a good way. This is a must watch.Nyayo stadium… 3pm… 🔥🔥#Sirkal | @Betsafe_KE pic.twitter.com/nz4kay3ACO— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) May 30, 2022 However, both sides are keen to secure victory for their sets of fans.”To play against AFC Leopards is a pleasure for the football fans. It is a challenge for both teams and we are happy to play against them once again. We have another chance to entertain the fans. We go into every match with a winning mentality no matter what league or cup it is and we will have the same mentality on Wednesday. Fans should come out in large numbers and enjoy this match because football is better enjoyed while in the stadium,” Gor Mahia head coach Andreas Spier told Mozzart Sport.“We are going to give our best in that game, everyone within the team and the fans want to enjoy a win over Gor Mahia. On Wednesday we are going to fight and see if we can get that important win, we want to make the fans happy,” Ingwe’s striker John Mark Makwatta talked of his side who have not beaten Gor since March 2016.The match is scheduled to kick off at 1500EAT.
