Gor Mahia FC head coach, Jonathan McKinstry, exudes confidence as his team gears up for the Mashemeji Derby against arch-rivals AFC Leopards at the Nyayo National Stadium. McKinstry has also urged Kenyan football fans to make a resounding statement to the rest of the continent by packing Nyayo Stadium to capacity.K’Ogalo will host arch-rivals Ingwe in a match where points and bragging rights are up for grabs. Both teams are relatively in good form compared to the first leg where Ingwe were undergoing a tough spell and Gor picked up a 2-0 win courtesy of a Benson Omala double.##NAJAVA_MECA_8039113##McKinstry has discussed the team’s preparedness for the derby, stating that it is important for the team to pick up a win on Sunday as they edge closer to their title defence. He is also keen on making the supporters happy by bagging a win.“Every point now feels like it is worth more because we are at the tail end of the season and we are edging towards the objective of trying to retain the championship. This weekend is another big opportunity for us to try and move towards that. We are looking forward to putting up a performance for our fans because this is a big game and we expect good attendance,” the Irishman said.Big Brother Events and Ticketing Firm is managing the ticketing for the Mashemeji Derby.VIP Tickets-KES. 1,000Regular Tickets- KES. 300 Four official ticket-selling points have been designated. Avoid purchasing tickets elsewhere to prevent the risk of buying fake tickets,… pic.twitter.com/gDiE9VLaRG— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) April 18, 2024 The tactician is also confident in his team as a whole, saying they have many match-winners in the team and good defensive cover, having let in just 12 goals so far this season, the least any team has conceded in the FKF Premier League this season. He also pointed out that they will be out to neutralize Ingwe’s players who can potentially hurt them.“We have a lot of match-winners in the team, we have the best defensive record in the league, and if we play the way I know we can, then three points are not too far away. We respect our opponents; they have some dangerous players as well, and we will make sure we let the players know about that so that we can get the points. The concentration and focus have to be there, and we have to play to our highest standards,” he added.Last year’s Mashemeji Derby hero backs Ingwe to claw Gor Mahia on SundayOn the spirit in his team ahead of Sunday’s duel, the coach said the spirits are high, especially after picking up the 3-1 comeback win over Nzoia Sugar FC on Saturday.“The mood in the camp is very good; we have been on a good run this year, and our position in the league showcases that. We have been pretty consistent from the start of the season, and we got a pretty good win against Nzoia last week, so the mood in the camp is good,” he added.The Gor boss also discussed the injury situation in the team, with the positive one being the return of Rooney Onyango to training after picking up an injury that forced him off against Nzoia Sugar FC. Emery Basiyenge and Patrick Kaddu are nearing a return, while captain Philemon Otieno’s knee injury will see him miss the derby.AFC Leopards coach calls for fan frenzy ahead of Mashemeji Derby“Pretty much everyone is fit; there are one or two little things. We all know that Rooney Onyango took a bad tackle last week and had to come out of the game, but you saw he was training today, not as much as everyone else, but we think that he will be ready for the game and ready for selection.Patrick Kaddu, who has been out for a while with a hamstring injury, is probably at 80%, Emery Bayisenge is a little behind, probably at 60%. This week might be too soon for Emery. Philemon Otieno is also out with a knee injury, but everyone else is fit, available, and ready to go,” he added.The coach concluded by issuing a rallying call to all football fans in the country, saying they should attend the derby not only to support the teams of their choice but also to send a statement to the rest of the continent regarding Kenyan football.“It has been a super competitive season, the players want to play in front of full crowds, and that is why I am sending an appeal not only to Gor Mahia fans but also to our friends at AFC Leopards to come out in thousands,”.“This is a showcase game for the league, it is the last opportunity this season at a big stadium for a big game, with the TV cameras there, not just Kenya watching but also the whole of East Africa and Africa watching. They should come out and be part of that celebration of Kenyan football. Whether you are a Gor fan, an AFC Leopards fan, or a neutral, on Sunday, come out, bring your family, and let’s have a full stadium and let’s show the whole of Africa what Kenyan football is all about.”Mashemeji Derby ticketing details
