Sofapaka youth Football Club is in a tantalizing prospect of being crowned the 2018 FKF Nairobi County league champions with just a win over Jericho All Stars this coming weekend.

A victory over the Stars, come Sunday, will provide the Edward Munandi-led side an appropriate signature moment and possibly the standout memory of a team with the potential to emerge winners of the league on their second attempt, provided second placed Uprising falter against Black Mamba at Makongeni grounds on same day.

Sofapaka, who lead the pack with 35 points, play hosts to Jericho on Sunday, 30 September, 2018 at the Camp Toyoyo AstroTurf stadium, starting 11am.

The young Batoto Ba Mungu have proved in this campaign and the current 3-point advantage over Uprising could be no way flattering if at all they (Sofapaka) keep their winning touch in the remaining three games of the campaign.

Sofapaka moved to within three points of the league crown after an impressive run that saw them beat Uprising 2-0 before posting a-1-nil identical wins against Black Mamba and Umoja Rhinos in the last their three games.

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 on 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

They will be crowned champions if they win on Sunday and uprising fc draws or loses, according to the table.

Former league champions Sofapaka will be seeking revenge when they face rivals Bandari in a mid-week league clash at the Mbaraki Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Bandari stunned Sofapaka 3-0 in the opening match of the season, and a win tomorrow will be sweet revenge for the visiting team.
Though coach John Baraza was not the head coach when they were beaten at the start of the season, he equally feels that its payback time, as he charges chase a podium finish despite the fact that the league title has been won by Gor Mahia.
Baraza, however, predicted a tough match, as he will also be coming face-to-face with his former striking partner Benjamin Mwalala who is the Dockers coach at the moment.
The duo played together for Tanzania giants Yanga during their playing days. “I want to believe that the team which will be clinical in front of goal will carry the day. Mombasa is not one of the best hunting grounds but I have instructed mu charges to give Bandari pound for pound,” said Baraza.
Baraza is likely to field Rwandese international Mico Justin who missed Sunday’s 1-0 Shield semi-final win against AFC Leopards due to the foreign players quota system rule for the Shield competition. While Bandari are currently second on the log with 58 points, Sofapaka are placed fifth on 50 points from 31 matches

Elli Asieche came on, in the second half to give sofapaka the much needed win. He knows that a good ninety minutes spell can make all the difference between him bouncing back to the continental scene after four years and having to wait another year. He scored the winning and only goal against holders AFC Leopards in the Shield semi-finals on Sunday 23 September, the attacking midfielder reveals that they had to keep focus in order to dispatch the cup favorites.

‘’We knew without focus it wasn’t going to be easy. Our game plan revolved around that, so we did exactly as the coach had planned,’’ Asieche told Soka.

The victory means he now faces his former side Kariobangi Sharks in the 2018 final, one which if he wins, he gets to play at the 2019 CAF Confederations Cup. He has been there before with Sofapaka, three years ago.

‘’I hope we win the final. It will be nice to finally play at the continentals again and by our own effort. For now, that’s what is on our mind” he added.

Batoto Ba Mungu bowed out of the CAF competition to FC Platinum by a 4-2 aggregate loss in 2015, Asieche, Willis Ouma, and current Coach John Baraza were part of the playing unit at the time and could be the only ones to return to the scene should they make the most of the final against Sharks.

Asieche who has been recovering from a knock he picked in the league game against Gor Mahia, adds that the kind of firepower they have as a team injects a lot of confidence whenever they play. 

Sofapaka currently have up to four potent forwards from the set of Stephen Waruru, Piston Mutamba, Aswani Kepha and Umaru Kasumba starting a match.

‘’It is true, when you have people who can score at any given time in the match, that gives you confidence as a team. We have gifted strikers and I hope they lift us in the final,’’ he adds.

Sofapaka’s last cup meeting with Sharks was the 2017 quarter final match where they fell 3-1 to the side coached by William Muluya. Elli Asieche played for Sharks at the time. 

The final will be played in October 20.

Sofapaka FC captain Mathias Kigonya is optimistic and already looking past Kariobangi Sharks as they target a return to continental football after three years in the cold.

The Batoto ba Mungu secured their FKF -Shield final ticket on Sunday after edging AFC Leopards 1-0 at the Kasarani Stadium last Sunday. All that is left now is their next win and they’ll be on their way back to the CAF Confederation Cup.

Kigonya emphasised that their victory over the holders Leopards was testament to the quality in their side, suggesting Sharks could pose less of an opposition in the final where the winner will also walk away with Ksh2 million, prize money.

“Sharks is a good team but I don’t think it’s a better team than AFC Leopards so if we managed to overcome them I don’t think the final will be a very tough game.

“I think we deserve to play continental football and believing that is a huge motivation for us. If you look at the teams playing at that stage I can say we are the same level in terms of quality,’ Kigonya said.

The goalkeeper has been a consistent performer for the club over the last two years and was in his brilliant best against Leopards, pulling off a string of outstanding saves to deny the holders.

His head coach John Baraza will be eyeing a piece of history when Sofapaka line up against Sharks as he bids to win the Cup competition both as a player and as a tactician.

“Of course that’s a very big motivation to me because everyone wants to make history and this is the kind of history that somebody like me wants.”

Sofapaka coach John Baraza has lauded his players for delivering a laboured win against Shield defending champions AFC Leopards on Sunday and in the process qualify for the finals of the competition slated for October 20th, where they will face Kariobangi Sharks.
Substitute Elly Asieche scored the priceless goal in the 83rd minute after coming from the bench in a match that threatened to go either way.
“I am happy with the victory. It was not an easy one, but we played well and used our chance well and that is what made the difference,” said Baraza.
He added: “Leopards was a very strong side, they had there chances, we also had ours and we utilised one of the our chance to win the contest.”
Baraza who started the match with four offensive players, Kepha Aswani, Umaru Kasumba, Stephen Waruru and Kevin Kimani, pinned Leopards in their own half in the starting 20 minutes of the match,
but failed to turn their dominance into goals.
“There is no time to celebrate the win over Leopards, because the main trophy is still ahead of us. We have to regroup and focus on the final now,” Baraza said.
He added: “Kariobangi Sharks will be an equally difficult opponent especially having beaten a team like Ulinzi 4-1 in the semi-finals, so we have to prepare well for them to make sure that we win the Shield as a consolation prize after we missed on the league title.”

Elli Asieche struck home to see Sofapaka advance to the Sportpesa Shield Cup finals after eliminating the defending champions AFC Leopards with a 1-0 win.

Sofapaka will now face Kariobangi Sharks in the finals to be held later.

Sofapaka had the better share of the opening half with experienced Kevin Kimani being instrumental but could not see Batoto Ba Mungu hit the target in the first stanza.

The John Baraza led side got an opportunity five minutes into kick-off but Umar Kasumba squandered the opportunity, blazing over his set-piece at the edge of the box after he was hacked down by AFC Leopards skipper Duncan Otieno.

Kasumba wasted another chance five minutes to half time when winger Kimani set him up only for the Ugandan to helplessly see his effort go wide.

Minutes later, George Maelo hit the bar after powerfully nodding Kimani’s pin-point free-kick to see both sides head to the interval locked 0-0.

In the 52nd minute, Stephen Waruru narrowly missed the top corner after Mutamba was hacked down by Abdalla Hassan for the free-kick to be awarded to Sofapaka.

Asieche, who replaced Pistone Mutamba in the 65th minute netted Sofapaka’s winner that sent them to the final for the first time since 2014 when they beat Posta Rangers 2-1 to lift the title.

Sofapaka team that will face AFC Leopards at MISC Kasarani Stadium on Sunday 23rd September 2018 for the Sportpesa Shield Cup Semifinals. 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)
Pistone Mutamba (09)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Stephen Waruru (33)

SUBSTITUTES

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
Edmond Kwanya (21)
Elli Asieche (16)
Ezekiel Okare (18)
Teddy Osok (06)
Samuel Mutiria (19)

Former AFC Leopards striker Kepha Aswani hopes to score against his former side and help Sofapaka reach the finals of the Shield competition when the two sides meet in the semifinals at Kasarani on Sunday.
Aswani who has been missing in action due to personal issues, is back in a big way and raring to go in the crucial clash.
“My work is to score goals and I can’t wait to score against Leopards to steer my team to the finals of the Shield,” said Aswani.
Sofapaka coach John Baraza is also optimistic of a win, saying his charges have prepared well for the clash and expect nothing less than a win.
” We are full house going into this match. We don’t have any injuries or suspension and we are looking at nothing less than a win on Sunday,” said Baraza.
The last time the two sides met in a league match in Machakos, AFC Leopards won 1-0 and before that, Sofapaka had beaten them 2-1 in Narok.

Kenya National football team coach Sébastien Migné has once again named Sofapaka duo Pistone Mutamba and Dennis Odhiambo in his 21-man final squad set to face Ethiopia in a two-legged Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier in October.
The squad is largely comprised of players who took part in Kenya’s back to back 1-0 wins over Ghana and Malawi in September. Captain Victor Wanyama, Brian Mandela and Paul Were have also been called up.
Coach Migné has also named nine players in a standby reserve list in case of injuries to any of the players originally called up.
Harambee Stars will first travel to Bahir Dar to face Ethiopia on October 10, before playing host three days later on October 14, at the MISC Kasarani.
Odhiambo who has 23 caps, had a man of the match performance against the Black Stars of Ghana in Nairobi and is likely to play a key role against Ethiopia. Mutamba who has six caps, was not introduced against Ghana, but played for 90 minutes against The Flames of Malawi in an international friendly build-up match a few days later.
 Full Squad
GOALKEEPERS
Patrick Matasi (Tusker, Kenya), Farouk Shikalo ( Bandari, Kenya)
DEFENDERS
Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers, Kenya), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg FC, South Africa), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Real Monarchs, USA)
MIDFIELDERS
Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka, Kenya), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Ismael Gonzales (Las Palmas, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan)
FORWARDS

Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka, Kenya), Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden)
RESERVE PLAYERS
Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya) Sosthenes Idah (Thika United, Kenya), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United, Kenya), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya)

Sofapaka have been boosted by the return of key players ahead of their midweek Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash against Kakamega Homeboyz at the Narok Stadium from 4pm on Wednesday.
The 2009 champions will now have the services of striker Kepha Aswani who had been nursing a nagging knee injury, as well as Kevin Kimani who had knocks and custodian Wycleff Kasaya who was serving a suspension.
With the availability of Aswani, coach John Baraza will be spoilt for choice on who to start with upfront, between the returning striker, Pistone Mutamba, Stephen Waruru and Umaru Kasumba, all of whom are enjoy a good run of form.
The team will only miss the services of right full back George Maelo who was red carded during their 1-0 league match win against Posta Rangers and is supposed to miss one match.
The match between Sofapaka and the Kakamega side has always produced thrills and never has a favourite.
In their last seven meetings, Sofapaka has beaten Homeboyz twice, drew three times and lost twice. The last time the two sides met on February 10, the tie ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Sofapaka.
Coach Baraza believes it will not be a walk in the park, but he has trained his charges on winning the crucial fixture to boost their bid of finishing the league second.
“Homeboyz has always been a tough nut to crack, but we have prepared well for this match and we are focused on winning the tie to help us move on top of the table,” said Baraza.
Sofapaka who have only won two matches in their last six are placed fifth on the log on 47 points, while Homeboyz who also has a similar record, winning two out of six matches, are placed ninth on the log with 40 points.