All eyes will be trained on the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay this afternoon as reigning and record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia host archrivals AFC Leopards in a highly anticipated league fixture, kicking off at 3 PM.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThis is one of those rare occasions where the league’s headline fixture is being staged outside Nairobi County. The newly refurbished Raila Odinga Stadium, which hosted this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations on Sunday, will provide the platform for the clash that promises both points and pride.##NAJAVA_MECA_8957513##The match was initially scheduled for Sunday, 11 May, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) advised against using the venue due to ongoing renovations in preparation for August’s CHAN tournament. Gor Mahia rejected a proposal to shift the fixture to Ulinzi Sports Complex, a smaller stadium, leading to a three-week delay before settling on Homabay as the new venue.For Gor Mahia, everything is on the line. Beyond the usual bragging rights, today’s match is a do-or-die affair. A loss would hand Kenya Police FC the league title with two games to spare. As such, K’Ogalo must collect all three points to keep their slim hopes of retaining the title alive. This has largely been an underwhelming season for the team.Mozzart Bet Cup: Giant slayers Nairobi United edge Mara Sugar to book finalOn the other hand, AFC Leopards have little left to fight for this season, having endured another average campaign. However, spoiling Gor Mahia’s title ambitions and securing derby bragging rights will serve as major motivation when they step onto the pitch this afternoon.The first-leg encounter in March ended in a goalless draw at Nyayo National Stadium. With both teams having shown inconsistency this season, predicting the outcome of today’s showdown in Homabay is no easy task.Gor Mahia’s interim coach, Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno, has issued a rallying call to the club’s supporters, urging them to turn out in large numbers and back the team.“For Gor Mahia, it is always about winning, and our fans are very demanding. I want to urge them to come out in large numbers and rally behind the team from the first to the final whistle,” Zico said.East Africa “well on course” for CHAN as security supervisors conclude Nairobi workshopDespite trailing league leaders Kenya Police FC by seven points, Zico remains hopeful.“In football, anything can happen at any time. We may be behind, but that is no reason to lose hope. Until the final whistle, the game is never over. What matters just as much is how we respond — whether we win, draw, or lose.”Meanwhile, AFC Leopards’ head coach Fred Ambani has emphasized the need for heightened security, noting that the derby’s relocation to Homabay — a Gor Mahia stronghold — could make some Leopards fans uneasy.“This is not the first time the derby is being played outside Nairobi — it has happened before, but it has been a while,” Ambani said.“Fans are used to this match being played in Nairobi, and now it’s going to Gor’s backyard. That alone is cause for concern, and adequate security measures must be in place to ensure everyone’s safety.”
