AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia: footballing rivalry and shared political underdog status in Kenya

Abstract

In competitive sport, especially soccer, rivalries constitute the highlight of any given season for such rivalries make for entertaining contests, marketability of the competitions and general following by the spectators. Indeed, rivalry adds to the competitive edge of the matches that is appealing and memorable, thereby fomenting a compelling legacy over the years. This essay focuses on the epic yet enduring rivalry between AFC Leopards (formerly Abaluhya United and also fondly called ‘Ingwe’ in Swahili) and Gor Mahia (also fondly called ‘K’Ogalo’) of Kenya – the two most successful and oldest football clubs in Kenya. These were formed to provide opportunities for socialization as well as forging of ethnic identities of the Abaluhya and Luo ethnic groups in the city of Nairobi, for AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, respectively. This rivalry is, therefore, deeply rooted in the ethnic differences of the communities that were core to their formation and fan base. The essay will endeavour to explore the multidimensional nature of the rivalry concept and demonstrate how it applies in the Kenyan soccer scene using AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia Football Clubs as points of analysis. Additionally, it will demonstrate how the two teams’ fans, despite their bitter rivalry on the field, have occasionally rallied together in political matters given their shared legacy of being on the periphery of political and economic power in Kenya.

Notes

1. Havard et al., ‘Sport Rivalry Fan Perception Scale (SRFPS)’, 45–65.

2. Versi, ‘Football in Africa’.

3. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

4. Spaaij and Geilenkirchen, ‘Ta(l)king Sides’.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Benkwitz and Molnar, ‘Interpreting and Exploring’. Also see Dmowski’s ‘Geographical Typology’.

8. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’. Also see Njororai, ‘The History and Identity’ and ‘Kenya at 50’; and Mazrui, The Africans.

9. See the links: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luhya.html#ixzz4IB7YUvKc and http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luo.html#ixzz4IBBJLSow.

10. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’, 866–82.

11. Ibid., 873.

12. Ibid.

13. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

14. Darby, Africa, Football and FIFA, 27.

15. Raspaud and Lachheb, ‘Centennial Rivalry, Ahly vs Zamalek’, 101.

16. Darby, Africa, Football and FIFA.

17. O’Brien, ‘“El Clasico” and the Demise’.

18. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

19. Siundu, ‘Football Worlds and Youth Identification’.

20. Ibid.

21. Ibid.

22. Ben-Porat, ‘“Biladi, Biladi”’.

23. Ibid., 24.

24. Barth, ‘Ethnic Groups and Boundaries’.

25. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

26. Ben-Porat, ‘“Biladi, Biladi”’.

27. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

28. Hutchinson and Smith, ‘Introduction’.

29. Ibid.

30. Armstrong and Giulianotti, ‘Fear and Loathing’, 1–2.

31. Benkwitz and Molnar, ‘Interpreting and Exploring’, 483–4.

32. Edensor, National Identity, 78–80.

33. Hutchinson and Smith, ‘Introduction’.

34. Giulianotti, Football, 10.

35. Dmowski, ‘Typology of European Football Rivalries’.

36. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

37. Ibid.

38. Ibid.

39. Ibid.

40. Ibid.

41. See http://www.kenyapage.net/football.

42. Ibid.

43. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

44. See http://www.kenyapage.net/football.

45. Njororai, ‘Association Football in Kenya’.

46. Read more at: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luhya.html#ixzz4IB7YUvKc.

47. Read more at: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luo.html#ixzz4IB9nybUU.

48. Waliaula and Okong’o, ‘Luo Identity in Kenya’.

49. Read more: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luo.html#ixzz4IBBJLSow.

50. Waliaula and Okong’o, ‘Luo Identity in Kenya’.

51. Ibid.

52. Read more at: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luhya.html#ixzz4IB5mblcj.

53. Armstrong and Giulianotti, ‘Fear and Loathing’, 1–2.

54. Dmowski, ‘Typology of European Football Rivalries’.

55. Alwy and Schech, ‘Ethnic Inequalities in Education in Kenya’.

56. Ibid.

57. Dmowski, ‘Typology of European Football Rivalries’.

58. Ibid.

59. American Heritage dictionaries, retrieved from http://www.answers.com/topic/minority?

60. Ben-Porat, ‘“Biladi, Biladi”’.

61. Njororai, ‘Association football in Kenya’.

62. Ibid.

63. Kenyanstar, ‘AFC Leopards vs Gor Mahia; By the Numbers’, May 6, 2017. http://kenyanstar.co.ke/index.php/football/2104-afc-leopards-vs-gor-mahia-by-the-numbers.