Gor Mahia suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to City Stars in Machakos last Monday, which made alot of fans go berserk, even mobbing captain Philemon Otieno to demand an apology.
Gor Mahia coach Leo Neiva has highlighted the valuable lessons from the team’s first defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss to Nairobi City Stars, despite their opponents finishing with ten men.
The reigning FKF Premier League champions had previously enjoyed a strong start, thrashing Mathare United 4-0 and defeating Posta Rangers 3-0 before a goalless draw against league leaders KCB. However, Monday's setback at Machakos Stadium ended their unbeaten run, leaving fans disappointed and demanding answers.
Furious supporters confronted the players after the game, with team captain Philemon Otieno addressing fans in Luo to partially explain the loss, citing the absence of several key players.
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In a match that saw Gor Mahia take an early lead through Levin Odhiambo, City Stars staged a spirited comeback. Robinson Asenwa scored the equalizer in the 60th minute, and just nine minutes later, he assisted Dennis Oalo for the winning goal.
Even after City Stars’ Edwin Buliba received a red card in the 89th minute, Gor Mahia’s efforts to salvage the game fell short, with Nicholas Muyoti's side holding on to secure their first win of the season.
Reflecting on the loss, Coach Neiva shared that while losing is tough, this match would serve as a valuable experience for the squad.
"In football, in any sport, no one likes to lose. This defeat will serve as a great lesson for my players," Neiva remarked to FlashScore. "But I'm not worried. The season is long, and other clubs will also drop points."
Gor Mahia went into the clash without key players Austin Odhiambo, Rooney Onyango, Sylvester Owino, and Geoffrey Onyango, who were on international duty with the Harambee Stars in Uganda for the CHAN qualifiers.
Despite this setback, Neiva made it clear that the absence of these players was not an excuse for the loss. "We have a very good squad that could get the job done even without those missing. We just needed to impose ourselves on the field," he explained.
Neiva acknowledged City Stars’ strong performance but stressed the need for his team to be more consistent tactically, technically, and physically.
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“We lacked all the aforementioned qualities, and nothing seemed to work for us. But we cannot take away City Stars' merit—they played well,” Neiva admitted. "This game will serve as a great lesson for everyone. Football is not a joke!"
As Gor Mahia looks to bounce back from their first loss, Neiva is focused on using this experience to motivate his players for the challenges ahead. With the season still in its early stages, he remains optimistic about the team's potential to learn and improve from this setback.