This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
Published on August 20, 2019, Gor Mahia and Bandari presented a perfect opportunity to gauge themselves ahead of their return legs in the CAF competitions this weekend.
Lawrence Juma's second-half deflected goal helped Gor Mahia overcome Tobias Otieno's 80th-minute red card to beat Bandari 1-0 in the 2019/2020 Kenyan Premier League season curtain-raiser at Kenyatta Stadium.
However, both teams' qualification to the next round of the continental competitions remains uncertain after they were held to barren draws by their respective opponents in the first leg matches.
While Gor Mahia will be seeking a win against Burundi's Aigle Noir CS in Sunday's Champions League encounter, Bandari will be hoping to upset their Sudanese Confederation Cup opponents, Al Ahly Shandy, in Khartoum on Friday.
Despite the win, Gor Mahia coach Steve Polack acknowledged that he has his work cut out ahead of the Aigle Noir tie.
'This win is a great motivation ahead of the Aigle Noir match, but we still have time to work on a few things,' Polack said.
Polack also expressed his joy at lifting the trophy, stating, 'I feel great. I'm just over the moon to have won my first trophy at Gor Mahia.'
Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala, on the other hand, was pleased with his team's performance, despite the loss.
'To be honest, the result wasn't a true reflection of the game,' Mwalala said. 'We outplayed Gor Mahia, created many chances, but they got one and punished us.'
