Clubs participating in the Football Kenya Federation Premier league have been engaging in pre-season friendly for the past couple of months, some stretching back to July, in an attempt to stay sharp for the 2022/23 season.Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have not been an exception, facing off with teams drawn from across the divide as they prepare for the new campaign, one that everyone has been looking forward to for a long time.From the matches that K’Ogalo has engaged in, a pattern has emerged that could or could not send concerns to the club’s diehards depending on the trend of the results.The Jonathan Mckinstry coached-side has played pre-season test matches with close to half the teams set to take part in the top flight in the new season but the friendlies results have not mirrored anything close to what everyone knows of the 19-time champions.Five Kenyan clubs serving FIFA Transfer bansFor Kenya’s club football to grow, the most successful club in the country has to be at its best, or so I believe, but that has not been the case the past two seasons and Tusker has taken over the mantle, but can K’Ogalo reclaim it?The mighty K’Ogalo has only managed to collect one win from the eight matches they have played against their fellow league sides, the result in their favor coming in the 3-0 win against FC Talanta, losing five and collecting draws in the remaining two.They have lost to KCB, Bandari, Posta Rangers, Wazito (Muhoroni Youth), and recently to Nairobi City Stars, with matches against Ulinzi Stars and Bidco United ending in draws.Nevertheless, one good thing that has stood out for Gor in the matches is Benson Omala’s effectiveness in front of goal and that of Peter Lwasa on top of their ability to bring on board additions from the youth team as they are still serving a transfer ban.Get ready to be surprised by youngsters – Gor Mahia coach reiteratesAgainst the premier league sides, the former Western Stima forward has scored four times in three matches, finding the net in the 2-1 loss against KCB, twice in the 3-0 win against FC Talanta, and once against Ulinzi Stars in the two-all draw.Lwasa on the other hand could take from where he left in the just scrapped season, with his two-goal tally from the eight matches being the second highest for the club. He scored in the 2-1 loss to Bandari and in the win over Talanta.##NAJAVA_MECA_6816202##In those eight matches, the team has struggled to keep a clean sheet, conceding in all but one match. In total, they have taken in 12 goals. To put the number in perspective, K’Ogalo conceded only 12 goals in 2015 when they went on to win the Kenya Premier League unbeaten.McKinstry focused on team progress not friendly games’ resultsIn October, the Irish tactician rubbished off concerns about the team’s pre-season performance, noting that he was focused on the progress of the team and not on the results of the pre-season matches.The same Gor Mahia that kept teams at bay in 2015 and 2016, conceding only 12 and 14 goals then, let in 29 and 28 in the last two seasons respectively, in the 2020/2021 season where they finished seventh and in the 2021/2022 unrecognized campaign.With the club’s transfer ban coming to an end, one thing that is expected for Gor’s camp is that they will attempt to bring in more experienced players as they seek to return to glory days.Gor Mahia coach anticipating fierce league contest after gauging Ulinzi StarsAlready, sources indicate that highly-rated defender Sylvester Owino will be joining K’Ogalo in mid-season, a quality addition to their seemingly-aiding backline that has let in 12 goals in eight matches in pre-season.Whereas pre-season is just pre-season sometimes and teams tend to engage in a different gear when the real competition kicks in, it remains to be seen whether Gor Mahia will do the same.With money now flowing in the club, perhaps the results in the main competition will overshadow pre-season results, starting with their opening match against Nzoia Sugar on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.
