Gor Mahia assistant coach Kobi Bismark has explained why goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi had to wait for his SportPesa League debut despite joining the club from arch-rivals AFC Leopards ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Katasi finally made his league bow against Bandari FC over the weekend, keeping a clean sheet as Gor Mahia claimed a 1-0 victory at Nyayo Stadium. Captain Alpha Onyango scored the decisive goal, finishing off an assist from Ebenezer Assifuah to hand the Green Army all three points.

The goalkeeper’s debut came after a difficult start to life at Gor Mahia, with his performances in the CECAFA Kagame Cup and FKF Super Cup prompting the technical bench to take a cautious approach before handing him further opportunities.

Katasi joined Gor Mahia on July 17 after an impressive campaign with AFC Leopards, where he helped Ingwe finish second in the 2025/26 league season, keeping 12 clean sheets in the competition.

His switch to Gor Mahia attracted attention given the fierce rivalry between the two Kenyan football giants. He followed in the footsteps of several players who have crossed the divide in recent years, including midfielder Austine Odhiambo and former AFC Leopards captain Lewis Bandi.

However, his first competitive appearance for Gor Mahia did not go according to plan. Katasi featured against Ugandan champions Vipers SC during the CECAFA Kagame Cup, where the Kenyan side suffered a 1-0 defeat.

Things did not improve in his next outing as Gor Mahia faced Tusker FC in the FKF Super Cup. Katasi conceded three goals as the record Kenyan champions lost 3-1, surrendering the shield to their opponents.

According to Bismarck, those early setbacks affected the goalkeeper’s confidence during training, forcing the technical bench to manage his situation carefully.

“We are very happy for him, not because we don’t believe in him, but I think he started badly in his Gor Mahia career. His first game against Vipers in the CECAFA Kagame Cup ended in a loss, and from that time, we could see that his confidence level in training was not too good. In the FKF Super Cup, we kept him, but he did not do that well,” Bismarck explained.

🟢 | 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐓

A clean sheet on his league debut….Well done Humphrey Katasi, keep going. 👏#𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐥 | #𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐍𝐚𝐆𝐨𝐫 pic.twitter.com/2ex5jpFdAA

— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) October 26, 2026

Katasi’s wait for a league appearance came amid changes in Gor Mahia’s goalkeeping department following their disappointing CAF Champions League campaign against Egyptian side Pyramids FC.

First-choice goalkeeper Byrne Omondi was suspended following the heavy defeat, creating an opportunity for the other goalkeepers to compete for the starting position.

Despite expectations that Katasi would immediately take over, Kevin Omondi was handed the gloves in Gor Mahia’s opening league match against Murang’a SEAL, which ended in a 4-2 victory for the champions.

Kevin retained his place for the subsequent fixture against APS Bomet, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win secured through Alpha Onyango’s goal from a Ben Stanley Omondi assist.

With Kevin having helped Gor Mahia win their opening two league matches, the decision to introduce Katasi against Bandari presented a significant test for the technical bench.

Bismarck, however, insisted that the former AFC Leopards goalkeeper had never lost the confidence of the coaching staff, despite his difficult introduction to the club.

“But we have seen him. Last season with AFC Leopards, he was a big goalkeeper, so it is even a problem for us if he is on the bench. However, we also have to support him, manage him well and use him at the right time,” he added.

The assistant coach also explained that giving Katasi an opportunity ahead of Kevin was a demonstration of the club’s belief in his abilities, despite the latter’s positive start to the season.

“If we did not believe in him, we would not have given him a chance when Kevin had kept a clean sheet and also won two games. But because we believe in him and believe he is a good goalkeeper who can help us, that is why he started against Bandari,” Bismarck said.

“I think we have brought him in at the right time, and he has shown that.”

Katasi’s clean sheet against Bandari could provide the confidence boost he needs as he competes for a regular starting position at Gor Mahia.

With the club facing a demanding league campaign, the goalkeeper will be keen to build on his successful debut and demonstrate the qualities that made him one of the standout shot-stoppers in the previous season.