Sofapaka captain Mathew Kigonya believes that their faulty start to the 2018 Kenyan Premier League season affected their final ranking after the season ended on Sunday, when the team played to a barren
draw against Zoo FC in Kericho.
The 2009 champions who finished last season second, this time managed a fifth position finish after the league’s final day, amassing a total of 53 points from 34 matches, where they won 15 matches, lost 11 and drew eight.
“It has been a tough season. We were on and off and the fact that we started on a poor note also contributed to our eventual destiny,” Kigonya said.
Sofapaka who were on paper regarded as one of the favourites to win the 20018 league title, surprisingly lost their opening match of the season 3-0 to Bandari at their home ground in Bandari.
“The fact that the head coach was changed midway also affected the team, because players took time to adapt from Sam Ssimbwa’s system of play to John Baraza’s system,” Kigonya said.
He added: “Now we look settled and raring to go.”
Gor won the league title for the 17th time on 75 points from 34 matches played, while Bandari were second on 62 points from the same number of matches.
Former champions Tusker secured the third spot on 56 points and 2010 champions Ulinzi Stars were fourth on 53 points

Sofapaka duo of striker Pistone Mutamba and utility player Dennis Odhiambo will lead national football team Harambee Stars quest to qualify for the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations as they play Group F rivals Ethiopia in a crucial qualifier in Addis Ababa, from 4pm on Wednesday.
In the absence of Zesco United striker Jesse Were, Mutamba may be deployed as a striking partner on Japan-based Michael Olunga, while Dennis Odhiambo who had man-of- the match performance in the team’s last two matches against Ghana and Malawi.
All the team’s in Group F have three points from two matches played and Stars are well aware that a win in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, followed by another win during the return leg in Nairobi on October 14, would see Kenya have one leg in the 2019 continental showpiece, the first time in 14 years.
This will be Mutamba’s seventh cap, while for Odhiambo who can be deployed in central mid-field, central defence and left wing-back, will be earning his 24th cap with the national team.

Sofapaka team that will face Zoo FC at Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday 10th October 2018 for the Sportpesa Premier League. Starting eleven include:

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Dennis Odhiambo (02)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
George Maelo (08)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Yusuf Mohammed (07)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Elli Asieche (16)
Mohame Kilume (04)
Stephen Waruru (22)

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben (29)
Samuel Mutiria (19)
Rodgers Aloro (17)
Ezekiel Okare (18)
Piston Mutamba (09)
Mico Justin (10)
Brian Magonya (26)

Former league champions Sofapaka FC are keen to finish the season on a high as they visit Kericho to play against Zoo FC in the final match  of the 2018 Kenyan Premier League on Sunday.
According to head coach John Baraza, the match is crucial as they seek to finish the season on a winning note. “The league title was won long ago and even the second place, but it doesn’t mean that our match against Zoo FC is a formality. We are not going to take it lightly, we have to win and end the season on a high note, so that we can continue from where we left when the new season begins next month,” Baraza said.
He added: “The attitude of the players is good and the morale is high, they want nothing less than a win.” Baraza will, however, miss the services key striker, Ugandan Umaru Kasumba who has nine league goals so far. Kasumba suffered an ankle > injury during their 2-2 draw against Nakumatt last weekend is is > likely to be out for three weeks. Veteran midfielder Ibrahim Kitawi will also be missing in action,
despite the fact that he resumed training this week after recovering from a fractured skull after colliding with a team mate during  training two months ago.
“Kasumba has been ruled out of our final match due to an ankle injury and Kitawi still doesn’t have match fitness, despite returning to full  training after recovering from a head injury,” said Baraza.
The 2009 league champions have, however, been boosted by the return of Rwanda international Mico Justin who has been missing in action after  he requested some time off to sort out his personal issues.
 Sofapaka are at the moment fifth on the log with 52 points from 33 matches and a win against Zoo may see them finish the season third if Ulinzi and Tusker lose or draw their respective matches against
 Mathare United and Gor Mahia on the same day.

Sofapaka team that will face Nakumatt FC at Narok Stadium on Wednesday 29th September 2018 for the Sportpesa Premier League. Starting eleven include:

Mathias Kigonya (01)
Dennis Odhiambo (02)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
George Maelo (08)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Yusuf Mohammed (07)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Elli Asieche (16)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Samuel Imbuye (24)

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben (29)
Willis Obayi (02)
Rodgers Aloro (19)
Ezekiel Okare (18)
Piston Mutamba (09)
Teddy Osok (06)
Stephen Waruru (22)

Joseph Njoroge put up a man of match performance after scoring a hat-trick when Sofapaka Youth edged visiting Jericho All Stars 4-1 in an FKF Nairobi County League penultimate game played Saturday morning at Eastliegh High School ground.

The entertaining game played under a sunny morning, saw the striker cum goalkeeper score two quick goals inside the first quarter and continued to keep Jericho defense at bay the entire half.

Njoroge, however, completed his hat-trick score at an hour mark after beating Jericho keeper with a low shot that went through the middle of the goal to the back of the net shortly before coach Edward Munandi made a decision to replace him with Juma Sudi,

For Sudi, needed only 12 minutes after being introduced to register his name on the score-sheet. The lanky forward unleashed a shot from inside the area in the 82nd minute that went straight to back of net to ensured that the Visitor’s strike — by Godfrey Omondi– be counted a consolation.

“It has not been an easy game. They (Jericho) were hard and played well but it good we utilized our changes well. However, i give credit to my midfield for supplying me with good passes and also to my coach who took us through sessions of making clever runs upfront during training which have yielded fruits today” Sofapaka’s hat-tricky scorer Joseph Njoroge said shortly after the game.

Njoroge performance could easily have been challenged for man of the match nevertheless the entire team was outstanding.

The defense, comprising of Brian Watende, Collins Odur, Brian Otieno and Barnabas Elungata was well commanded by experienced Timothy Ngugi in the goalposts. Tevin Dudical, Ogonya Vitalis and captain Hussein Maina also deserved credit in the midfield.

“The game has been good because my players have enjoyed. They have played well and utilized the chances created“, head coach Edward Munandi said after the game. His counterpart at Jericho Stars put the loss to his squad that saw most of his key players not turning up for the epic game.

The win took Sofapaka to within two points of the league crown and they will be declared champions if second placed Uprising fail to beat Black Mamba on Sunday as the season enters ints final round.

The league has three zones, where all the winners of each of the zones will earn automatic promotion to the regional league, while the runners-up will play in a mini-league where the winner would secure the fourth promotion slot.

Elsewhere in the same league, Sports Connect will host Salem Sportive at Buruburu Mesora as Madiwa city lock horns withh Rada sports at lower jericho before Kiambu Warriors take Kariobangi South United at the latter ground.

In other fixtures, Umoja Rhinos and Tena United are scheduled to play Mbotela youth and Uefa Umoinner in that order at Tumaini primary school ground. All the above fixture are schemed to happen on Sunday.

Sofapaka XI: Timothy Ngugi (GK), Brian Watende, Collins Odour, Hussein Maina, George Otieno, Barnabas Elungata, Joseph Njoroge, Tevin Dudical, Ogonya Vitalis, Mathee Vincent, Brian Otieno

Subs: Okwasimi William (GK), John Lutta, Makuki Ochieng, Alvin Lemayan, Juma Sudi, Victor Otieno.

Sofapaka Youth FC are looking forward  to utilize the high spirit in their camp and home advantage opportunity to edge out Jericho All Stars in an FKF Nairobi County League game scheduled for this weekend.

The game, which was earlier on scheduled to be played on Sunday, 30 September, 2018 and at the Camp Toyoyo Astro turf pitch, was later brought a day forward and shifted to Eastlegh ground, which is Sofapaka training ground.

While speaking to Sofapaka media Batoto ba Bamingu youth head coath Edward Munandi said that playing at home will aid his side as players are used to the ground.

The former Oserian n Utalii Fc player also noted that the high spirit in camp will also play a big role during the encounter.

“Shifting the game to our our training ground will help us because my players are used to the pitch“. Munandi said before adding that “We have minor injures though, but the the spirit is high in camp. We are going a for victory against them (Jericho).”

A win will see Batoto ba Mungu be pronounced champions of the league if second placed Uprising falter against Black Mamba at Makongeni grounds on Sunday.

In other matches, Sports Connect will host Salem Sportive at Buruburu Mesora as Madiwa city lock horns withh Rada sports at lower jericho before Kiambu Warriors take Kariobangi South United at the latter ground.

In other fixtures, Umoja Rhinos and Tena United are scheduled to play Mbotela youth and Uefa Umoinner in that order at Tumaini primary school ground. All the above fixture are schemed to happen on Sunday

Sofapaka Youth team look set to emulate their senior side’s exploits in their debut season in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) in 2009, when they won the league on their debut, as they are only three points away from clinching the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi Branch league.
After beating their closest opponents Uprising who are second in the Zone A table standings 2-0 at Ziwani grounds over the weekend, now the junior ‘Batoto Ba Mungu’ side only need a win against Jericho All Stars this coming weekend, to be confirmed the league winners and earn promotion to the regional league next season.
Currently they top the table with 35 points from 14 matches with two matches to go, having won 11 matches and only lost a single match the entire season. The two remaining matches are against sixth placed Jericho All Stars who have 23 points from 14 matches and relegation
bound Madiwa City who are placed second from bottom with four points from 13 matches.
“We can now smell the title, but we can’t afford premature celebration until we are declared winners. We only have two matches to go and know a win against Jericho All Stars will settle things, though we want to win both the two matches and finish the season on a high,” said the
team’s coach Edward Mnandu.
He added: “Our match against Jericho was initially slated for Camp Toyoyo on Sunday at 11am, but we have written to the league organisers to move it to Eastleigh High School on Saturday at the same time, because National Super League matches will be played at Toyoyo on Sunday.”
Mnandu said the team was enjoying a good run with back-to-back victories and did not expect to lose the remaining two crucial matches.
The league has three zones, where all the winners of each of the zones will earn automatic promotion to the regional league, while the runners-up will play in a mini-league where the winner would secure the fourth promotion slot.

Bandari fc has extended its unbeaten record of a dozen games by securing a one all goal as they hosted Sofapaka at Mbaraki Stadium.

Kepha Aswani opened the goals on the first half for Sofapaka and then William Wadri equalized for the hosts on the second half.

The game was a rescheduled fixture after heavy torrential rains made the pitch unplayable as the fixture was originally slated on Wednesday 26th September. Come Thursday , the pitch was still waterlogged but that didn’t dampen Sofapaka’s spirits as they broke the deadlock in the 10th minute through Kepha Aswani.

Sofapaka were brimming with confidence after their Shield victory over holders AFC Leopards in the weekend enjoyed dominance in possession and the pitch once again played a part in the tie as Faruk Shikalo was handed a red card for a lounge on Waruru after punching the ball. Sofapaka went into the halftime break leading 1-0.

Bandari resumed the second half a much-rejuvenated side and pulled level five minutes after the break through Wadri who notched his ninth goal of the season. Abdalla Hassan played Wadri through on goal as the Ugandan international got past the defenders to burry home the equalizer.

Bandari continued to press on for the winner as the game entered its closing stages and came agonizingly close when Dan Guya’s effort was cleared off the line by Kevin Kimani as Bandari players made claims that the ball had crossed the line. Sofapaka, however, held on for the draw as they move to fourth on the log while Bandari maintains their second spot on the table.  

Sofapaka team that will face Bandari FC at Mbaraki Stadium on Wednesday 26th September 2018 for the Sportpesa Premier League. Starting eleven include:

Mathias Kigonya (01)
Dennis Odhiambo (02)
George Maelo (08)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Yusuf Mohammed (07)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Ezekiel Okare (18)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Stephen Waruru (33)

SUBSTITUTES

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
Rodgers Aloro (19)
Elli Asieche (16)
Piston Mutamba (09)
Teddy Osok (06)
Justin Mico (10)