The Nzoia Bogey - Gor vs Nzoia since 1979

It has always been said that Nzoia, in its various forms of existence, was Gor Mahia's bogey team. The notion is that matches between the two would always be 50-50 affairs over a season, with Nzoia winning in the West and Gor Mahia exacting revenge in Nairobi. Since their last appearance in the league in the 2005 season, it was generally expected that normal service would resume but Gor Mahia has already bucked that trend by winning the away fixture 1-0, thanks to Meddie Kagere. One would however argue that it was at Mumias and not the (in)famous Kanduyi. This weekend Gor Mahia will be seeking to do the double, again not in Nairobi but rather Kisumu. But is it true that Nzoia always posed a problem to Gor Mahia over the years? I decided to confirm this by going over results of all the meetings the two have had in the league.

Gor Mahia actually first played a league game against Nzoia in Kanduyi on 23 June 1979, and not surprisingly, lost 2-1. Nzoia got their goals through a Jimmy Onyango double while Gor Mahia's consolation goal came through George Yoga. However in the return leg at Nairobi's City Stadium on 6 October, George Yoga and Tim Ayieko each scored a double as they beat Nzoia 4-1 on their way to a fourth league title. Since then, the teams have played each other 37 times in the league, with Gor Mahia winning 17 of those matches while Nzoia has won 10 with matched ending in a draw. Gor Mahia has in the process scored 56 goals while conceding 32 goals. The boys from the sugar belt indeed proved a hard nut to crack at home and it was not until 11 June 1988 that a Peter Dawo inspired Gor Mahia got their first away win in Nzoia, courtesy of goals from Peter Dawo and captain Austin Oduor.

While Gor Mahia has a superior record, it has not always been an easy opponent for its strikers. Hesbon Omollo is the leading goal-scorer for Gor Mahia in this fixture with 4 goals with five other players on 3 goals.

Hesbon Omollo (RIP) has scored more goals in this fixture than any other Gor Mahia player

4 Goals  - Hesbon Omollo
3 Goals  - George Yoga
              - John "Zangi" Okello
              - Abass Khamis Magongo
              - Joseph Owino
              - Bramwell Mwololo

No Gor Mahia player has managed a hat-trick against Nzoia while 7 players have managed to score a double against them:

1. George Yoga [22/06/1979 in 4-1 win]
2. Tim Ayieko  [22/06/1979 in 4-1 win]
3. Abbey Nassur [23/05/1981 in 4-1 win]
4. John Okello "Zangi" [06/08/1983 in a 3-0 win]
5. Hesbon Omollo [14/04/1984 in a 4-0 win]
6. Abass Magongo [29/10/1994 in a 2-1 win]
7. Bramwell Mwololo [18/10/1997 in a 2-0 win]

Finally K'Ogalo's biggest score in this fixture is 4-0  in 1984 while their biggest loss margin is 0-2 in 1996 and 2001.