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Gor Mahia preseason preps kick off with high-stakes Rayon Sports clash
18th July, 2026 03:13 PM
Gor Mahia’s preseason preparations are set to officially kick off this Saturday, July 18, 2026, as the reigning Kenyan champions face off against regional rivals Rayon Sports.
K’Ogalo faithful are eagerly anticipating the clash, with Gor Mahia earning an exclusive invitation to the annual ‘Rayon Sports Day’ at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, scheduled for a 6:00 pm kick-off.
The encounter will be the highlight of an event-packed day for the Rwandan hosts, who are also set to hold a glittering player presentation and an awards ceremony immediately following the final whistle.
Opponent watch
Rayon Sports have been equally busy bolstering their ranks with top-tier talent from across the African continent. Among their marquee acquisitions is Issa Djiguiba, who was named the MVP of the Malian top flight last season.
Other notable additions include 19-year-old Nigerien midfield prodigy Ibrahim Djingarey and Chadian international Charles Tchouplaou. The Rayon technical bench is expected to use the high-profile friendly to assess these new stars on their debuts against Gor Mahia.
Meanwhile, this marks the second consecutive year Gor Mahia has been invited by a regional powerhouse for a flagship preseason event.
The encounter will be Gor’s second appearance after an invite from a regional club after their appearance in the Simba Day 2025 celebration in Tanzania.
K’Ogalo went down 2-0 on September 11, 2025.
Gor’s preparations
Ahead of the Kigali showdown, head coach Charles Akonnor led his squad through their final tactical training session. Gor Mahia’s new signings, including highly-rated goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi and attacking pair of Hansel Ochieng and Enock Machaka, are part of the traveling squad.
Both are expected to feature prominently as they look to make an instant impact and stake their claim in the starting lineup for the upcoming campaign.
After the Kigali trip, Gor Mahia will swiftly shift their focus to the CECAFA Kagame Cup, which is scheduled to kick off next Friday, July 24, 2026.
K’Ogalo will renew rivalry with East African and Central African football giants, including Tanzania giants Young Africans and Simba SC, among others.
