Starring midfielder Dennis Odhiambo says he is very keen to transform his brilliant form at the national team to club level ahead of Saturday’s FKF Shield final against Kariobangi Sharks at the Kasarani Stadium.

Odhiambo has been one of the Harambee Stars stand-out performers in their last four matches home and away against Ethiopia, Ghana as well as Malawi and it is that experience he wants to bring to the team on Saturday.

“It has been a very good period with the national team and I am happy with how I have been able to perform. It is a different ballgame altogether but hopefully, I can also play a big role for the club on Saturday,” Odhiambo says.

He admits it will be a huge match for the side, but personally, the push to earn his first ever trophy at club level in Kenya will push him to do his best.

“I have never won a trophy in Kenya and this is a chance for me to get that title. I will work hard for it and do my best but as a team too, we should put our best foot forward. It will not be an easy game, but we have to do our best,” further stated the midfielder.

Odhiambo joined the team from Thika United in mid-season and slotted straight into the starting team and plays dynamically as either a midfielder or leftback.

Sofapaka FC captain Stephen Waruru has rallied his teammates to put their A game in force on Saturday when they tackle Kariobangi Sharks in the final of the FKF Shield at Kasarani on Saturday.

Waruru says he is pumped to push the team to victory in his first season at Sofapaka and remains confident the team will win.

“It is a huge game with a lot of demands and we have to be on top of our game. We have worked hard to be here and what remains now is to give our best in this final and win. We have to end the season with a trophy after missing out on the KPL title,” Waruru who joined Sofapaka from Ulinzi Stars at the beginning of the season said.

Waruru reached the 2016 final with Ulinzi where they lost by a solitary goal and this being his second final, he wants to make things right.

“It is rare to get two chances in anything and for me, I want to make this count. We have a good team with quality players and there is experience as well. Everyone is focused on getting results so I am confident we have a winning team,” further stated Waruru.

The striker is expected to lead the line for John Baraza’s men in a game that goals will count for everything at the end of the 90 minutes.

“It is a final, we have to go all out and get a result. There is the prize of playing in the Confederations Cup next year and that is a huge incentive for us as players. We will do our best,” said the skipper.

Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza says the team is ready to break a four year trophy drought ahead of Saturday’s Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield final against kariobangi Sharks at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.

Sofapaka has gone four years without winning a title, their last piece of silverware being the 2014 Shield title where the team won against Posta Rangers in Nakuru for their third crown.

“There’s pressure of course because for a team used to winning, it doesn’t auger well when you go four years without winning anything. As a team we want to win the title, the management and sponsors also want to be associated with champions,” Baraza said.

He added; We are prepared for the game and the players know the expectations from everyone. We want to go in and win and also get a chance to represent the country next year.”

Baraza has won the Shield title with Sofapaka in 2010 and 2014 and he now wants to add another feather to his cap winning as a coach. He says he is motivated by the prospect of making history and has urged the players to give their all.

Looking at the challenge posed by Sharks, Baraza knows it will not be a walk in the park.

“Sharks is a very good team with good players and I know they will not be coming in lightly. They are in the final and that shows they are a good team too. We can’t afford to go into that match in a weak way. Tactically and technically, they are a very good side,” Baraza noted.

This season, the first leg meeting between the two sides ended 0-0 while Sharks won the second leg 1-0.

Sofapaka coach John Baraza will be seeking his first accolade as a coach when his side faces Kariobangi Sharks in the finals of the 2019 Shield Competition at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A lot is at stake in the match. Only 90 minutes stands between coach Baraza and his first major achievement in his coaching career. A win will also see Sofapaka pocket Sh 4 million, which comprises of Sh2 million prize money and Sh 1 million apiece from club president Elly Kalekwa and team jersey sponsors Betika. A ticket to represent the country at next year’s CAF Confederation Cup is also at stake.

Baraza who was the team’s main striker three seasons ago, before venturing into coaching, became the team’s head coach in May after Ugandan Sam Ssimbwa resigned following a spate of poor results, and managed to steer the team to fifth position in the league and the finals of the Shield.

“I’m not nervous at all, but I really want to win this competition. It’s not all about me, but the team and our targets,” Baraza said.

He added: ” We have prepared well and ready to make our fans proud.”

Sofapaka will be seeking to revenge against Sharks who knocked them out of the same competition at the quarter final level last season, beating then 3-1.

Sofapaka have been boosted by the return of top striker Umaru Kasumba who suffered an ankle injury during their league match against Nakumatt last month.

On their way to the finals, Sofapaka beat Re-Union 2-0, before stopping Baba Dogo 3-0. They then walloped Western Stima 4-1 then knocked out Tusker 2-1 at quarter finals then pipped immediate champions AFC Leopards 1-0 in semis.

Former league champions Sofapaka are 90 minutes away from pocketing Sh 4 million if they win the Shield final against league rivals Kariobangi Sharks at Kasarani on Saturday.
This was been disclosed by the Club president Elly Kalekwa who watched the team during their last training session at the match venue on Thursday evening.
Winners of the Shield competition are entitled to a cash prize of Sh 2 million, but Kalekwa pledged a person token of Sh 1 million is the side wins the duel and also announced that their jersey sponsors Betika had also pledged Sh1 million for a win.
” I’m sure the team has prepared well for the final, we have had prayers and what is remaining is to do battle on the pitch. I believe we have already won this match, what is remaining is to go lift the prize on Saturday,” Kalekwa told the players.
Team captain Stephen Waruru said: ” This is a token and a massive morale booster. We are angry for a silver wear after we missed the league title and you can see the urge in the faces of all these players. We will win the duel for you and all our fans.”

Saturday 20th October 2018 (Mashujaa Day) at quarter past three in the afternoon will see Kenyan Premier League sides Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks battle it out at Kasarani Stadium to determine who clinches the 2018 Sportpesa Shield silverware and prize money of Kshs 2 Million.

In addition, the winner will represent Kenya in the 2019 CAF Confederations Cup. The match kicks off at 3.15 pm EAT.

Sofapaka beat Tusker 2-1 in the quarters before edged defending champions AFC leopards by a solitary goal to make it to this final. Sharks on the other hand bundled Gor Mahia out of the tournament in the last by beating them 4-2 on post match penalties before thrashing Ulinzi Stars in the semi final fixture.

Before the final on this Mashujaa Day, AFC Leopards will play Ulinzi Stars in the curtain raiser to determine who finishes 3rd, this match shall kick off at noon.

This journey kicked off with 64 teams derived from all over the country all with the target to represent Kenya in the 2019 CAF Confederations Cup. AFC Leopards clinched the shield in 2018.

In addition to the trophy, the runner’s up will take home Ksh 1 Million. The winner between Ingwe and the Soldiers will bag Ksh 750,000 while fourth place attracts a Ksh 500,000 cash prize.

Harambee Stars Head coach Sebastien Migne has heaped praises on Dennis Odhiambo who has been playing impressively for the National team offlate. “He is a good example of what local players can do for the country, given a chance and support that they need”, he said.

Coach Migne added that local based players are as equally important as the foreign-based players in the team as far as qualifying for AFCON 2019 is concerned. 

“Every player is important for the team and it therefore doesn’t mean that foreign-based players have an upper hand. What I am keen on is commitment. For instance look at Dennis Odhiambo, he has been very instrumental for the team.” Migne said. 

The coach also revealed that he is hoping to work with several local based players during this recess period before the leagues resume.  I hope to have a working arrangement for the local based national team players even if it means training together for a few hours together several times a week.  

Kenya is scheduled to face Sierra Leone in its next match, that is if the world soccer body FIFA uplifts it ban on the Leone Stars.

Sofapaka defender Mousa Omar played the entire 90 minutes as Burundi lost a first half lead to draw 1-1 and in the process picked a point against the Central African giants in Bujumbura.
Omar who has been influential for Sofapaka in his debut season, carried his club form to the national team as he made Mali stars who feature for major clubs in Europe, look like ordinary football players.
Former Sofapaka striker Fiston Abdul Razak broke the deadlock in the 18th minute after a great move from the left wing, but Mali’s Mamadou Fofana spoiled their party in the 72nd minute with an opportunistic strike.
The result meant that Burundi moved closer to qualification as they are second in Group C with six points.

Sofapaka and Harambee Stars utility player Dennis Odhiambo has lauded the national team’s performance against Ethiopia after they beat the Walia Antelopes 3-0 in a thrilling 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F qualifier on Sunday, that has now put Kenya in the driving seat.
Odhiambo who played the entire 90 minutes in the match and many fans believed that he was the man-of-the match, said they played according to their strategy and could have increased the goal tally in front of a mammoth crowd at the Kasarani Stadium.
“We had a strategy for the two qualifying matches. In Addis Ababa we were more defensive and it worked well for us, in fact we were unlucky to pick maximum points there because we had a goal disallowed,” said Odhiambo.
He added: “Back in Kenya for the return leg, we were more offensive. We were not to concede any goal, but at the same time we had to score and get any type of a win. We did just that and we could have scored even more.”
Another Sofapaka player in the team, striker Pistone Mutamba was in the Stars squad but did not play part of the match.
Kenya currently lead Group F with seven points from four matches, followed by Ethiopia on four points from four matches, while Ghana and Sierra Leone are on three points from two matches.
The 2019 Afcon competition will be held in Cameroon in June next year.

Sofapaka defender Moussa Omar will be seeking to steer Burundi’s national team past Mali in their crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifying match in Bujumbura on Tuesday afternoon.
Omar who has been a key figure in the heart of Sofapaka defense during his maiden season, believes he can carry club form to the national team and help his side stop the Central Africa team and move closer to qualifying for the continental show piece, slated for Cameroon in June next year.
Former Sofapaka striker Fistone Abdul will also be in action and will be partnering highly rated Stoke City and former West Bromwich Albion striker Sadio Berahino in search for the crucial goals.
Burundi are second in the group with five points from three matches, while their opponents Mali lead the group with seven points from three matches.
Gabon which boasts the services of Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are third in the group with four points from three matches and South Sudan are perched in the bottom without a single point from the three matches played.