Nairobi United dare dream, Gor Mahia all calm ahead of Mozzart Bet Cup final
Nairobi United coach Nicholas Muyoti (left) and Gor Mahia coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno.
What you need to know:
- The high-riding Nairobi United, barely 10 years old, are appearing in their first FKF Cup final.
- Gor Mahia will be looking to erase their tears after failing to retain the FKF Premier League title.
Nairobi United coach Nicholas Muyoti is optimistic they will beat Gor Mahia in the FKF Mozzart Bet Cup final at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Langata in Nairobi on Sunday from 4pm and write history.
The high-riding Nairobi United, barely 10 years old, and recently winners of the second tier National Super League, are appearing in their first FKF Cup final.
Winners will bag Sh2 million in prize money and a ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup with the losing finalist will pocket Sh1 million.
Mara Sugar will clash with Muranga Seal in the third place play-off at the same venue from 12pm with winners collecting Sh750,000 and the losers Sh500,000 courtesy of Cup sponsor Mozzart Bet.
As Nairobi United, formed in 2015 as Balaji EPZ FC before rebranding to the current name, chase history, seasoned Gor Mahia will be looking to erase their tears after failing to retain the Football Kenya Federation Premier League title.
Gor have been participating in either the prestigious Caf Champions League or Caf Confederation Cup since 2013 and you can imagine they will not want to miss out this time.
Kenya Police FC players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Mozzart Bet Cup final on June 29, 2024 at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
Nairobi United, owned by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja through his foundation that goes by his name, boasts of a passionate following in the city and are proven giant killers having eliminated big guns Tusker, Kakamega Homeboyz and KCB.
“History is not going to work for Gor Mahia. It is going to be 11 vs 11. The are ready to lift the cup,” said a buoyant Muyoti.
“We are really good and have a good squad and are ready to play even better in the final. We will give our all,” added the former Kenya international.
Nairobi United beat Tusker 5-4 on penalties in the round of 32 after a 1-1 draw in the regular time.
In the round of 16, the beat KCB 6-5 again via spot kicks after a barren draw in normal time.
Their impressive record continued in the quarter finals where they edged 2023 champions Kakamega Homeboyz 2-0 before making it to the final with a 3-1 post-match penalty shoot-out win over Mara Sugar after a 1-1 score in open play.
The final could yet be their biggest test. Gor Mahia coach Zedekiah Otieno and captain Philemon Otieno have vowed to be wary of the Nairobi City newbies.
“The Mozzart Bet is our last hope of winning a trophy this season. Nairobi are a good team having reached the finals so we have to be very serious and our fans should turn up in large numbers to rival their big fan base,” said Philemon.
Zedekiah said there was nothing like the underdog tag and he did not consider Gor Mahia as favourites.
“Look at the teams they have eliminated and the favourites tag has never won a title. They are not under dogs and we are equal. We have to do everything on the pitch to lift this cup,” Otieno said.
Gor Mahia will miss goalkeeper Gad Mathews and defenders Geoffrey Ochieng and Kennedy Onyango, through injuries.