Games such as the Gor Mahia vs Shabana FC match scheduled for Saturday 11 May are good in bringing back glory days to Kenyan football and even taking it higher, at least according to Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry.The two clubs boast passionate supporters drawn majorly from their repsective communities.Matches involving the two sides have been some of the most attended this season.FKFPL: Relegation battles aplenty as Gor and Shabana lock horns in KisumuReturning after 17 years, Shabana has brought some fresh energy in the local fanbase and challenged their big brothers Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.”These types of games are very good for Kenyan football. These are the kind of games that will help take Kenyan football back to where it used to be or even higher,” the tactician offered ahead of the clash.The match, eagerly awaited for by local football enthusiasts, is likely to see a fully packed Mamboleo Stadium as is the characteristic of the two teams and the Northern Irish tactician has urged both sets of fans to turn up for the game.”With the game being played in Kisumu, I hope to have a full stadium and urge all sets of fans to turn up for the game. A couple of weeks ago in the Mashemeji derby, we had a full stadium in Nyayo and hopefully we repeat that in Kisumu for the good of the game,” he continued.##NAJAVA_MECA_8094801##In the past, Gor Mahia matches hosted in Kisumu have experienced a fully packed Moi Stadium and McKinstry believes that can be reestablished.”10 or so years ago, the stadiums in Kenya were full. We watched football on our televisions, both local and international but there’s no doubt that in the recent past due to COVID-19 and other issues, Kenyan football has dropped a little bit compared to leagues in the region but it can be rejuvenated.”Further, McKinstry believes that the fact that Saturday’s match will be on TV is a good opportunity to advertise Kenyan football to the wider region and Africa at large.Important reminders. ✅ Gor mahia Fc VS Shabana Fc is today (Saturday ) 2PM EAT✅ The match will be played at Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu✅ The match will be Live on TV(Azam Sports HD 3)✅ Tickets will be sold at the venue, kindly observe queuing procedure. ✅ Charges will be… pic.twitter.com/qrvFWE08zL— Shabana Fc Kenya (@Shabanafckenya) May 11, 2024 All these, the coach says are secondary for him at least for this weekend as his primary role will be to get maximum points against relegation-threatened Shabana FC.Numerous times in his address to the media this season, McKinstry, a proponent of African football has been urging fans of all teams to turn up in the stadium as a way of improving local football.He has previously been in charge of the national teams of Sierra Leone, Zambia and Uganda.
