Gor Mahia’s schoolboy George Odhiambo (left) shields the ball away from a Thika United played at a past Premier League match at the Coca-Cola stadium on Saturday. Duncan Owiti, another teenage sensation at Gor Mahia, dazzled fans with his brace against current champions Mathare United . Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN
Courtesy of the Daily Nation
Of the seven Kenyan Premier League matches played over the weekend, Gor Mahia’s 3-1 win over champions Mathare United was the talk of the town, as four other matches ended in draws.
Going into this game, many feared that Gor might wobble against a hungry, in-form United, but those fears looked to be unfounded as soon as the match played at the Coca-Cola National Stadium kicked off, because Gor’s youngsters were more than a match for an experienced United team.
The 18-year-old Duncan Owiti, making his first appearance with the big side, cannoned a shot from 25 metres 15th minute for his side’s opener, before flicking in his second, moments after resumption for the second half.
“That was a day of my dreams,” said the former Thur Gem Secondary School student, who assumed the striker’s role from regular Habil Otieno.
“It was a dream to have a debut and score goals like that,” he added. “I need to keep going like that and enjoy.”
Owiti dressed because both Otieno and John Ringo sat on the bench.
That didn’t stop stand-in coach Gideon Ochieng’ from putting the youngster in.
“It was a gamble,” he said. “Winning is the name of the game at this club. Yes, we take risks, but that is part of football.”
Peter Opiyo was given the responsibility of taking charge of the former champions’ midfield alongside Tony Onyango and the Harambee Stars man battled hard and took the eye with his surging runs and tackling.
The average age of Gor’s team was just 25 and the youngest player on the pitch, Kamukunji schoolboy, George Odhiambo (17 years), was arguably the most composed of the lot.
Although he’s only played three times for Gor’s first-team, the 17-year-old striker once again looked like the real deal.
Playing at the Coca-Cola National Stadium is a test for any forward, not least because of the hostile crowds behind Gor’s delivery, and then there’s the energy sapping turf and the sense of occasion.
The stadium didn’t faze Owiti in any sense. His link-up play with Odhiambo was hugely impressive.
Unlike Ringo and Zaboln Otieno, who are all essentially second strikers, the young lad is a genuine number nine in the making, he leads the line superbly and his close control is excellent.
Against what was an excellent United defence, Owiti was happy to receive the ball in any situation, such a pity that Gor couldn’t make that vital breakthrough in the first minutes of the match.
United were then awarded a penalty minutes later but Anthony Khadudu, who had been taking penalties in recent matches for Mathare United, did not have the coolness he required as he shot into George Odhiambo’s hands
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