• Alphonce Omija breaks silence on emotional Gor Mahia reunion.
• Omija was among the standout performers as Nairobi United held Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw at Wang’uru Stadium.
• He put an impressive defensive shift against a side he previously represented.

Nairobi United defender Alphonce Omija has opened up about his emotional reaction during Sunday’s SportPesa League encounter against his former club Gor Mahia, insisting that his actions were purely driven by his determination to help his current team secure maximum points.

Omija was among the standout performers as Nairobi United held Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw at Wang’uru Stadium, putting in an impressive defensive shift against a side he previously represented.

Nairobi United took the lead in the 15th minute through Joseph Seremba, who finished off a well-worked move following an assist from Ovella Ochieng.

Gor Mahia then managed to rescue a point through Alpha Onyango who struck a spectacular equaliser in the 89th minute.

Throughout the encounter, Omija was at the heart of Nairobi United’s defensive efforts, making crucial interventions and winning several individual battles against Gor Mahia’s attacking players.

The Harambee Stars defender was visibly animated during some of the challenges, celebrating successful tackles and showing his emotions whenever he came out on top in his defensive duels.

His passionate display attracted attention, particularly among Gor Mahia fans, given his previous association with the club.

After the final whistle, Omija was seen exchanging his match jersey with Gor Mahia captain Sylvester Owino, a moment that reflected the respect that remains between the former teammates.

Gor Mahia captain Sylvester Owino and Nairobi United defender Alphonce Omija exchange jerseys after their sides played out a 1-1 draw. https://t.co/KxeKAt80wl— Belvine Omondi (@OmondiBelvine) November 8, 2026

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Omija explained that he was simply doing his job for his new employers.

“I was just representing my new club and I had to do my job. I didn’t mean anything bad,” told SportPesa blog.

The defender admitted that conceding a late equaliser was disappointing, especially considering how badly Nairobi United needed their first league victory of the season.

“We haven’t won a match and we really needed the three points, so conceding hurt a little. But we have to fight for three points in every game. It doesn’t matter who we are facing,” he added.

Omija’s passionate performance sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Gor Mahia faithfulls questioning his approach against his former employers. Some even suggested that he was deliberately targeting to injure their players during the match.

However, the defender dismissed those suggestions, maintaining that his approach was no different from what he brings to every competitive assignment.

“I’ve seen the comments all over, but that was not the case. It was just a game of football, with everyone wanting a win. I even had such a performance with the national team during the CHAN matches. I don’t go to the pitch to hurt our opponents, it’s just football,” he explained.

Despite the emotions surrounding the fixture, Omija was keen to emphasise that he holds Gor Mahia in high regard, acknowledging the important role the club played in his development.

“They are my former team and they played a big role in my career so far my football journey started at the club, so I owe them a lot too. No disrespect to them,” he stated.

The former Kariobangi Sharks defender also dismissed claims that his determined display against Gor Mahia was influenced by any unresolved issues with the club before his departure.

The defender left K’Ogalo for Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel on September 10, 2025, after returning to the record champions from a spell with Oman’s Dhofar.

He insisted that his departure from Gor Mahia was peaceful and that all outstanding matters had been settled before he moved to North Africa.

“I left Gor Mahia in peace, with everything sorted. They don’t owe me anything and we don’t have any bad blood with anyone, so words like I was playing that way because they owe me are a lie. Everything with them was sorted, so no bad blood,” he clarified.

He further revealed that his relationship with several players at the club remains intact, despite now representing a rival side.

“Most players are still my friends. We still hang out off the pitch and some we still meet in the national team camp,” he added.

Having returned to the Sportpesa League after his spell in Tunisia, Omija is now focused on helping Nairobi United improve their start to the 2026/27 campaign.

The defender acknowledged that results have not gone according to plan but expressed confidence that the team can turn things around, pointing to the work being done by the technical bench and players during the international break.

“The season has not started well, but with the little international break, our coaches and us as players are working hard to make things right so that we can start winning our matches, everyone here is wants to win so we are all working on that” he says.

“I love it here, and I love the trust from our coaches in us.”