EXCLUSIVE: Martins Neiva says Nairobi City Stars defeat a wake-up call for Gor Mahia

After a fine start that had seen them thrash promoted side Mathare United 4-0 and Posta Rangers 3-0 before drawing 0-0 against table leaders KCB, K'Ogalo’s unbeaten start was shattered after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat against Simba wa Nairobi at Machakos Stadium on Monday, October 28th.

Against City Stars, Gor Mahia had taken a first-half lead courtesy of Levin Odhiambo's effort but Simba wa Nairobi came a more rejuvenated side in the second period to level the scores and grab the winner despite Edwin Buliba having been sent off for a second bookable offence in the 89th minute.

It was Robinson Asenwa, who started the comeback, first putting City Stars level in the 60th minute before he turned the provider, setting up Dennis Oalo for the winner in the 69th minute and stunning the K’Ogalo faithful, who had thronged the venue to cheer their team.

However, despite K'Ogalo’s relentless attacks to get something from the game in the closing stages, it proved futile as City Stars under Nicholas Muyoti held on to shock the record champions and earn their first win of the season from six matches.

Heading into the game, Gor Mahia were yet to lose against City Stars in the last five matches in the league. In fact, the last time City Stars beat K’Ogalo was in 2021, a 2-0 result at Nyayo Stadium.

Last season, en route to winning their 21st league title, Gor Mahia sealed a double over City Stars, winning the first-round meeting 4-1 before edging them out 1-0 in the second-round battle.

It was the same case in the 2023 season, Gor Mahia walking away with six points from City Stars, the first meeting ending 1-0 before Gor Mahia won 4-1 in the second meeting to be crowned the champions ahead of Tusker FC.

City Stars defeat will serve as a great lesson

According to Martins Neiva, who tested his first defeat in the top-flight, refused to press the panic button over the outcome insisting the league has a long way to go and even their rivals will drop points at some stage.

“Football is not a joke," Martins Neiva told Flashscore when asked to analyse the outcome of the game. “It was a very bad day in the office for Gor Mahia, I mean anything can happen in football, everything is possible, and it turned out that we lost today (Monday).

“It is unfortunate that we never took our chances, and even in the first half, we were leading 1-0 but could not protect the result, but the team as a whole didn’t perform well.”

Being Gor Mahia’s first defeat of the season, the Brazilian gaffer was asked to explain how it felt. He said: “In football, in any sport, no one likes to lose, this defeat will serve as a great lesson, to my players but I don’t want to worry now, the competition is still long way to go (we have only played three matches) and other clubs will also lose points for sure.”

Gor Mahia went into the game missing the services of their key players - Austin Odhiambo, Rooney Onyango, Sylvester Owino and Geoffrey Onyango - both who are with the national team Harambee Stars in Uganda.

Kenya under head coach Engin Firat are currently participating in the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifiers and played South Sudan in the first leg losing 2-0 on Sunday, October 27 at Juba National Stadium.

Kenya will face the Brights Stars in the return leg at the Stade Nelson Mandela Stadium in Uganda on Sunday, November 3rd.

Asked whether the absence of the players had played a role in the defeat, Martins Neiva responded: “Not really, we have a very good squad, a squad that could do the job minus those missing, we only have to impose ourselves on the field.

“Technically, tactically and physically...we lacked all the aforementioned and nothing looked to work for ourselves. Again we cannot take away their (City Stars) merit, but we lose and must blame it on ourselves. This game will serve as a great lesson for everyone. Football is not a joke!”

In a recent interview with Flashscore, Martins Neiva remained optimistic of finishing the season unbeaten.

“We have only started the season, we have played two matches and won both, but I know it will not be easy surely (to go unbeaten) but of course if we get it, it will be amazing for us and the fans,” Martins Neiva told Flashscore.

“I remember the last time Gor Mahia won the title unbeaten was in 2015 under Frank (Nuttall), I think it is something we can easily achieve, we only need to stay focused and do our work, but we still have a lot of areas that need improvement before we start talking about the season.”

In the history of the league, Gor Mahia have won the league title twice with an unbeaten record. The first time was in 1976 and they repeated the same feat 39 years later under the leadership of Frank Nuttall in the 2015 season.

During the campaign under Nuttall, Gor Mahia won 24 matches, drew six and lost zero ties amassing 78 points, 20 points above second-place Ulinzi Stars in a 30-game campaign.

The eventual league champions scored 60 goals while conceding just 12 goals and going on to finish with a goal difference of +48 goals. K’Ogalo posted the biggest home win of the season – the 5-0 drubbing of Nakuru AllStars.

K’Ogalo’s now leaves three teams - KCB, Bandari and Kenya Police - as the only unbeaten sides. Gor Mahia are now sitting ninth on the 18-team table with seven points from four matches while the Bankers are at the top with 17 points from six matches.

Gor Mahia will turn their focus to Saturday, November 2nd when they take on Murang’a Seal in their matchday four fixture. Then on November 24th, they will come up against rivals AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji derby at Machakos Stadium.