Retracing Gor Mahia’s journey in Cecafa tournament ahead of Azam test

Gor Mahia’s will be out in the chase for a fourth Cecafa Kagame Cup when they take on Azam in the semi-final on Wednesday.

The much-awaited clash will be Gor Mahia's 65th appearance at the regional games since their debut against another Tanzanian side, Simba SC on January 7th, 1975.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Gor Mahia first lifted the cup in 1980 then successfully defended it 1981 before laying their hands on the trophy, for the last time, four years later in 1985.

Two of those victories came against traditional rivals AFC Leopards.

The period from 1980 to 1985 was arguably the club’s best in the competition as they made four finals appearances.

K’Ogalo beat AFC Leopards (then Abaluhya FC), 3-2 to lift their maiden title in a final staged in Blantyre, Malawi.

They would then beat the same opponents 2-0 in 1985 in Khartoum, Sudan to lift their third regional gong.

Since then, the trophy has evaded Gor Mahia for 33 years.

Gor Mahia made a return to the tournament in 2014 to end their 18-year hiatus where they finished without winning any match.

K’Ogalo will face an Azam side that beat them 2-0 in 2015, where current Girona striker Michael Olunga scored five goals to become the club’s third-record scorer behind Hesbon Omollo (seven), Nahashon Oluoch ‘Lule’ (six) in the regional games.  

Gor Mahia have scored 84 goals and conceded only 66 in the process in the entire tournament, but Dylan Kerr side are yet to score more than three goals in a single game.