Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry has rallied fans to throng the stands during their Mashemeji derby clash against AFC Leopards at Moi Stadium, Kasarani on Saturday.
McKinstry expects Saturday’s crowd at the 60,000-capacity venue to outnumber that of last weekend’s thrilling match between AFC Leopards and Shabana at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Complex.
The 7,500-seat venue, which is owned by the military, was packed to the brim during the thrilling Kenyan Premier League match that ended in a one-all draw.
“We witnessed a mammoth crowd at Ulinzi Complex over the weekend in the league match between AFC and Shabana. We are looking forward to a much bigger crowd on Saturday considering the two biggest clubs in the country will be in action.”
The Irishman will be groping for his first Mashemeji derby win since his arrival at the club in 2021. His first assignment against their nemesis at Nyayo Stadium ended in a heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat in the preceding season.
He is convinced that they have sharpened their talons well enough to thrive in the much-anticipated thriller.
“We must be in our best element because our fans expect nothing short of a win. We need to punch above and beyond to reclaim our bragging rights,” McKinstry said.“We all understand how important the derby has always been to our fans and everyone else at the club and the least we can do for them is to win the match. We are ready for Saturday,” McKinstry said.