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Both sides were awarded millions of shillings by both President William Ruto and Raila Odinga after Gor Mahia edged out the Ugandan outfit on penalties during the Luo Piny festival in Siaya.
Gor Mahia triumphed over Ugandan side Kitara FC in a dramatic 9-8 penalty shootout to mark the grand opening of the newly constructed Siaya County Stadium.
The friendly match, played before a packed crowd, capped off a day of celebration attended by prominent dignitaries, including Kenyan President William Ruto, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson candidate Raila Odinga, and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
The match was part of festivities to unveil the state-of-the-art Siaya County Stadium, a project that has been in development for over five years.
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16:25 - 02.01.2025
Harambee Stars' to face Burkina Faso, Tanzania & Zanzibar as fixtures for 2025 Mapinduzi Cup released
Harambee Stars will be playing Burkina Faso in their first clash of the four-team Mapinduzi Cup tournament in Zanzibar on Saturday from 8:15 PM
The stadium's opening drew thousands of fans, eager to witness history and enjoy the much-anticipated friendly between the Kenyan football giants and their Ugandan counterparts.
Gor Mahia fielded a strong squad, boosted by the return of key players who had been in camp with the Harambee Stars preparing for the Mapinduzi Cup.
Alphonce Omija, Rooney Onyango, Sylvester Owino, and Austin Odhiambo all started, providing a solid foundation for the team. Zedekiah Otieno, Gor Mahia’s head coach and an assistant coach for the national team, was also on the sidelines.
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15:00 - 02.01.2025
Ben Stanley Omondi: The rising star who once played against Porto & Chelsea at 13 now hungry to shine for Harambee Stars
Omondi, who was part of the U-14 Kenyan side that played against the likes of Porto and Chelsea in Southampton back in 2017, is now part of the senior Harambee Stars side preparing for the 2024 CHAN.
The match began at a blistering pace, with both teams eager to secure victory on this special occasion. Despite numerous opportunities, neither side managed to break the deadlock in regular time.
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions as both teams sought fresh legs to tilt the balance, but the stalemate persisted, pushing the contest to a penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout proved to be a spectacle of its own, as all 22 players on the pitch stepped up to take their spot-kicks.
Gor Mahia converted their initial penalties through Alpha Onyango, Levin Odhiambo, and Austin Odhiambo, while Omija and Rooney Onyango missed. Kitara FC responded with successful kicks from Solomon Okwalinga, former Gor Mahia striker Patrick Kaddu, and David Ndihabwe, but Marvin Nyanzi and Ronald Otti missed, sending the contest into sudden death.
Both teams maintained composure, scoring their next four penalties. Gor’s Musa Masika, Shariff Musa, Paul Ochuoga, and Sylvester Owino all found the net, matching Kitara’s precision.
The decisive moment came when Gor Mahia goalkeeper Gad Mathews scored his penalty, while his counterpart, Chrispus Kusima, hit the post, handing K’Ogalo the narrow victory.
The electrifying conclusion sparked jubilant scenes as thousands of Gor Mahia fans stormed the pitch in celebration, even before referee Dickens Mimisa could blow the final whistle. Security personnel had earlier taken over 10 minutes to clear the goal area after fans invaded the pitch ahead of the shootout.
Adding to the celebratory mood, President William Ruto announced a Ksh 2 million donation to be shared by the two teams, while Raila Odinga pledged an additional Ksh 1 million. Each team walked away with Ksh 1.5 million as a reward for their spirited performances.
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