Sofapaka team that will face Gor fc at the Narok Stadium on Sunday 22nd August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Maelo George (08)
Denis Odhiambo (02)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Mohamed Kilume (04)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Asieche Elli (16)
Mico Justin (10)
Magonya Brian (10)
Aswani Kepha (50)

SUBSTITUTES

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Timothy Luda (12)
Mohamed Yusuf (07)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Aloro Rodgers (17)
Mutamba Pistone (09) 

Sofapaka have declared that they will be undaunted by Gor Mahia’s pedigree when the two teams face off in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) midweek match at Narok sub county stadium tomorrow.

John Baraza, Sofapaka coach,  said he does not think his charges will be victims of stage fright against Gor despite the latter enjoying a purple patch, having come from behind to restrict them to a 3-3 draw in the first leg match on May 20.

“The first leg league result proved that my young team is equal to the task against big guns. Gor Mahia are the cup holders and the fact that they have been playing in high-profile CAF Confederation Cup matches is enough reason to give them due respect. But I must say we are ready for them once more,” said Baraza.

He added that Sofapaka will not be fooled by Gor’s ignominious 2-1 defeat by Rwanda’s Rayon Sport last Sunday, adding that it was a mere slip-up and that they (Sofapaka) expect to meet a vengeful lot.

“The worst we can do is to look at the result of Gor’s match against Rayon. Obviously, improvement is on their minds and we know just how dangerous they can be. We’ll try as much as possible to handle any pressure and God-willing win the match,” said Baraza.

The tactician further reckoned that his team ought to have won in their last match which they drew 2-2 with Nzoia in Bungoma were it not for missed chances.

“We actually created more chances than Nzoia. I have told my strikers to be composed and if that happens, they should be able to rise to the occasion against Gor,” said Baraza.

Granted, Baraza’s message on improvement is one that should be heeded by the likes of Stephen Waruru, Pistone Mutamba, Kepha Aswani and Umaru Kasumba who are shouldered with the main responsibility of banging in goals for Sofapaka.

Gor are on a redemption mission and losing a second match on a trot will be unacceptable to their fans.

Soon after Gor succumbed to Rayon, the team’s Coach Dylan Kerr said his players gave their all but nonetheless note that there were a few grey areas which need rectification before the team’s match against Sofapaka and even beyond when they clash USM Alger in the final CAF Confederation match in Algeria

At position 4 in the KPL log, we are still gunning for the KPL 2018 league title. Below is a the list of our deadly strikers and their goals so far with 42 goals scored so far, having played 27 matches, won 13games, drawn 4 and lost 10. 

1. Pistone Mutamba (8 goals)
2. Kepha Aswani (8 goals) 
3. Stephen Waruru (7 goals)
4. Umaru Kasumba (6 goals)
5. Mathias Kigonya (4 goals)
6. Kevin Kimani (3 goals)
7. Elli Asieche (3 goals)
8. Ezekiel Okare (2 goals)
9. Humphrey Okoti (1 goal)

Sofapaka defender Mousa Omar has been called up to the Burundi national team for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon in Conakry on September 7. The call-up comes in back drop of a spate of brilliant performance for the club after Omar managed to become a regular in the Sofapaka side that is currently fourth on the Kenyan Premier League table.
Omar who has made 20 appearances for Sofapaka since joining the 2009 champions in January can also play as a defensive midfielder.
Burundi has been boosted by the availability of star striker Saido Berahino who represented the England under 21 national team at one time.
Fifa granted the Stoke City striker permission to switch allegiances from England to Burundi early this month. The striker fled his war-ravaged country aged 10 to seek asylum in the UK, joining his mother and siblings in Birmingham.
And he has appeared for six different youth levels for England, starting from the U16s to the U21s between 2009 and 2015

Sofapaka obviated another defeat from Nzoia Sugar fc, to make it end in a 2 all draw match at Sudi Stadium on 18^th August 2018.

Stephen Waruru scored on the 67^th minute to give Batoto ba Mungu the equalizer and earning a point each on the KPL log.

Mike Oduor opened the goals on the 12th minute before their Nzoia opponents Collins Wakhungu and Patrick Kwitonda scored in the 19th and 22nd minutes respectively to set the clash in the home side’s favor, which lasted the entire first half.

Brian Magonya and Pistone Mutamba were introduced by John Barasa in an attempt to get the second goal and put things at par. Michael Oduor and Elly Asieche vacated their positions for the new entrants.

Waruru scored the fourth goal of the match and second to the visitors in the 67^th minute. Nzoia were punished for backpedalling and allowing Sofapaka attack from wide areas and dominance of midfield.

Nzoia remains winless in their last nine matches.

John Baraza’s side was smarting from a 0 – 1 loss to Vihiga United in the last game and was hoping to get some reprieve against the team coached by his former team mate at Sofapaka, Nicholas Muyoti.

This scores gave both coaches the much needed reprieve.

The result leaves Sofapaka fourth on the log with 44 points and Nzoia drops to 14^th with 31points.

Sofapaka team that will face Nzoia fc at the Sudi Stadium on Sunday 18th August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Aloro Rodgers (17)
Yusuf Mohamed (07)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Mohamed Kilume (04)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Asieche Elli (16)
Mico Justin (10)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Aswani Kepha (50)

SUBSTITUTES

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Edmond Kwanya (21)
Osok Teddy (06)
Magonya Brian (10)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Maelo George (08)
Mutamba Pistone (09)

Sofapaka players now have a reason to smile after the club’s handlers liaised with National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to have players and officials get health insurance from the giant government corporation.
Soon after the morning training session at Eastleigh High School yesterday, the playing unit and officials were taken through the procedures of registration with the assistance by NHIF officials in an exercise that lasted for less than an hour.
According to reports, payment for monthly remittances will be deducted from the wages of players and officials with their spouses and children also among the beneficiaries in the medical cover.
Sofapaka Fc Former Captain Hillary Echesa said this was one of the best things to have happened to him ever since he joined Batoto Ba Mungu.
“Getting registered as a NHIF member was God-sent.  I wil now be able to access quality and affordable health services through the NHIF card. Initially, I was paying a lot of money for surgical procedures and dialysis for my child and I can now heave a sigh of relief after registering with NHIF,” said the player.

Sofapaka team that will face Vihiga United fc at the Narok Stadium on Sunday 12th August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Aloro Rodgers (17)
Yusuf Mohamed (07)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Mohamed Kilume (04)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Asieche Elli (16)
Mico Justin (10)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Aswani Kepha (50)

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben (29)
Mutiria Samuel (19)
Osok Teddy (06)
Magonya Brian (10)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Maelo George (08)
Oduor Micheal (11)

International striker Kepha Aswani is back for Sofapaka ahead of the crucial league match against relegation threatened Vihiga United, slated for Narok Stadium on Sunday.
According to the team’s head coach John Baraza, Aswani who has been having a recurring knee injury will be available for selection on Sunday, after missing a couple of matches due to the injury, but will have to fight for a place against Umaru Kasumba and Pistone Mutamba.
“Aswani’s knee injury has been recurring and that is why we didn’t want to speed up his return to action. However, he is now good to go and we will consider his services against Vihiga on Sunday,” Baraza said.
He added: “For the Sunday match we will only miss the services of midfielder Ibrahim Kitawi who is still nursing an injury suffered in training and Dennis Odhiambo who lost his father and has been given time off.”
In the absence of Odhiambo who had made himself a first team regular, Baraza may replace him with Teddy Osok or Rodgers Aloro.
Sofapaka won their first leg fixture against Vihiga 1-0 away, but Baraza remains cautious of the side which desperate for results as they battle to steer clear of the relegation zone.
While Sofapaka lie third on the league standings with a match at hand, Vihiga have lost four matches in their last five have, are perched in 16th spot with 23 points from 25 matches. The match will kick-off at 3pm.

Sofapaka coach John Baraza says his team had to give their all to see off Ulinzi Stars in the Kenyan Premier League clash staged in Narok on Sunday 5th August, but heaped praise on soldiers side for their fighting spirit.

It was a  very tight game for both sides, no wonder the lone goal minutes before stoppage time, due to a defence error on Ulinzi side. Umaru Kasumba capitalized on it giving Batoto ba Mungu the much needed win.  Baraza admitted it was not easy but will enjoy doing a double over a team of Ulinzi’s stature any day.

He said before the goal, he had already assumed it would end in a draw and added that Ulinzi deserved something from the game, going by their output.

“They are a big and tough team in the country and I think they showed it with the way they fought in the game and pushed it to the end. The game of football is crazy at times and I think they deserved something from this match.

“We thought it would end in a draw but of course getting a late win over a team like Ulinzi is always very welcome,” he said.

Their previous game was held at Afraha stadium, Nakuru and Sofapaka beat Ulinzi Stars 2 – 1.