Former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka have lined up two top drawer friendly matches – against Ugandan champions KCCA and Sudanese giants Al Hilal – as part of their pre-season activity.
KCCA, who are in the country to face Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in a Saturday 20 January friendly game, will afterwards take on Sofapaka at the Narok Stadium in Narok on Friday 26January, head coach Sam Ssimbwa has confirmed.
Ssimbwa, a former KCCA coach is confident his charges will gain well from the friendly match and having finished the KPL 2017 season second to Gor Mahia, he notes that the game serves as a part of a preseason regime aimed at ensuring the team goes to the 2018 campaign in top form.
“KCCA is a strong team and they have a big profile in this region. To play them in preseason is an important part of our preparations and from it and more plans we have in the coming few days I hope we can head to the new season very fit,” he told Sofapaka portal.
The following Wednesday on 31st January, the 2009 KPL champions will take on the Sudanese side at the Narok County Stadium, another game Ssimbwa hopes his charges will gain massively from.
“Al Hilal is among the big teams in the continent and with new players in my team, what better way can we get to help them gel ahead of the season than taking on the big teams around? We will definitely gain a lot from this game just like the KCCA one.
“We are really working hard in training and after this clash I believe we will be ready for the new season,” he added.
Sofapaka will be opening their 2018 campaign against Bandari FC on Sunday 4 February. Last season, the team drew with Bandari 1 – 1 at home in the first leg before beating the Mombasa side 2 – 1 away in the second leg.