Gor Mahia F.C., commonly referred to as Gor Mahia, is a football club based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is one of the two most popular Kenyan football clubs. Gor Mahia are joint twelve times winners of Kenyan Premier League titles[1] and have also won nine domestic Cups - FKL Cups. In addition they are the only Kenyan club to win an African continental title and the first in East & Central Africa CECAFA[2] when they won the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1987. [3][4] after being finalists in 1979.
The club was formally established in February 17th 1968 as a merger of Luo Union FC and Luo Sports Club (also known as Luo Stars) and won the national league at the first time of asking. Some of its original leaders were politicians Tom Mboya and Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga. However the club was founded much earlier, in the 1910s, and participated intermittently in local tournaments in Western Kenya.Various groups used this name at different times. The club's home ground is the Nairobi City Stadium. Alternate stadiums are Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium. It has been proposed that the club hosts some of its home matches at its alternate stadiums in its earlier days, Moi StadiumKisumu, once renovated[5] and Mombasa Municipal Stadium.
The club is steeped in Luo legends and mythology. Gor wuod Ogada nyakwar Ogalo (Gor son of Ogada grandson of Ogalo) was a medicine man from Homa Bay who was known to possess mystical powers. Mahia is a Dholuo word which describes a state of awe, wonder and mystery hence when Gor was formed it was supposed to naturally possess these mystical characteristics of the legend it was named after. Indeed Gor Mahia lived to these expectations and even exceeded them. In its most successful years, Gor Mahia was invincible and some even regarded the club as the best in Africa. The club won the Kenya national football league in 1968 having been formally founded only in February of the same year.[6]. In 1976, Gor Mahia won the national league unbeaten.[7] [8].
Coupled with the undying loyalty and passion of its supporters, K'Ogalo ( means ' Of House/ Homestead of Ogalo') still has a potency to rise and regain its lost glory. As of 2010, Gor has started bouncing back to fame steadily bringing back Kenyan football fans back to the pitch and regularly filling sold-out stadiums.[9]. Indeed the club has grown out of its traditional boundaries to have an estimated 12 million fans across the world mostly in East Africa.
The club returned to silverware in 2008 when it won the KFF Cup[10] after a thirteen year drought of any major trophies. Gor proceeded to win the Kenya DSTV Super Cup against the year's defending champs, Mathare United before the beginning of the 2009 KPL season.[11] On October 26, 2011 Gor Mahia in typically dominant fashion trounced Sofapaka to win the 2011 edition of the FKL Cup having dispatched their archrivals AFC Leopards 6 days earlier in an October 20th Heroes Day thriller. [12]. [13]
[edit] Players & Technical Bench (2012)
[edit] Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Source:[14] Various All Time Great Lineups here http://kenyapage.net/gormahia/fan-suggestions-g.html[15]
[edit] Coaching staff
Source:[citation needed]
Source:[16]
[edit] Achievements
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- 1987
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- 1980, 1981, 1985
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- 1968, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
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- 1976, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2008
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- 2011
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- 2008.[17]
[edit] Performance in CAF competitions
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- 2009 - Preliminary Round
- 2012 -
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- 1969: Quarter-Finals
- 1977: Second Round
- 1980: Second Round
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- 1984: abandoned in Second Round
- 1991: First Round
- 1992: Quarter-Finals
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- 1994: First Round
- 1996: First Round
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- 1993 - Quarter-Finals
- 1998 - First Round
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- 1979 - Finalist
- 1981 - Quarter-Finals
- 1982 - withdrew in First Round
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- 1983 - Preliminary Round
- 1987 - Champion
- 1988 - Quarter-Finals
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- 1989 - Semi-Finals
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[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 1°17′38″S 36°50′32″E / 1.29389°S 36.84222°E / -1.29389; 36.84222
Ambrose Otieno Rachier
Anaba Awono
