Sofapaka raided Ulinzi barracks to net the maximum points of the game, with Umaru Kasumba scored the only goal during the game at stopagge time in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played at the Narok County Stadium on Sunday 5th August. 

Ulinzi Stars wasted a number of big chances in their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash against Sofapaka before going down 0-1 at the Narok County Stadium on Sunday 5 July.

Ulinzi Stars were undone with poor finishing as Masita Masuta, Elvis Nandwa and Harun Mwale missed a couple of good chances while on the opposite side brilliant goalkeeping by Jacktone Odhiambo ensure Sofapaka forwards Stephen Waruru and Umaru Kasumba dont find the back of the net. 

Though it was never a closed game as both sides played offensive football at the start and within the first 15 minutes either side should have had the ball at the back of the net. Ulinzi’s first good chance was spurned by Elvis Nandwa after getting to the end of Oliver Ruto’s corner that was poorly defended by Sofapaka.

The soldiers side almost paid the price after Sammy Mutiria spotted Odhiambo off his line and unleashed a long range shot that forced the keeper to back track and tip the ball over. 

Odhiambo was on hand for two other good saves in the opening half to stop Dennis Odhiambo’s goal bound effort and another dipping shot from which he crashed his head on the post but was up after a few seconds of check up by the Ulinzi medical team.

With the win, Sofapaka remain second on the log with 43 points from 25 matches, 13 points less than table toppers Gor Mahia who have three matches at hand. Ulinzi are fifth with 38 points having played 25 matches.

Sofapaka team that will face Ulinzi fc at the Narok Stadium on 05th August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Samuel Mutiria (19)
Yusuf Mohamed (07)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Odhiambo Dennis (02)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Asieche Elly (16)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Mutamba Pistone (09)

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben (29)
Aloro Rodgers (17)
Osok Teddy (06)
Mico Justin (10)
Kilume Mohammed (04)
Maelo George (08)
Mang’oli Bernard (20)

Former league champions Sofapaka will renew their rivalry with Tusker on September 1, this time in the quarter-final of the Shield competition slated for Machakos Stadium from 2pm.
The match will be the first one of a double-header to be aired live on television and will be followed by the match between Gor Mahia and Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue from 4.15pm.
The last time Sofapaka and Tusker met, last Sunday, it was an explosive match that ended 2-1 in favour of the brewers with a lot of player injuries for both sides.
According to the amended schedule released by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Secretariat today, defending champions AFC Leopards will be against National Super League side Kenya Police at the
Bukhungu Stadium from 3.15pm, immediately after a match pitting Ulinzi Stars and little known Riverplate that would start at 1pm at the same venue.
A prize money of Sh 2 million is at stake in the competition as well as a chance to represent the country at next season’s CAF Confederations Cup competition.

Sofapaka’s technical director Martin Ndagano has said they have changed strategy ahead of a herculean fixture against former league champions Ulinzi Stars at Narok Stadium from 3pm.
Coming in the back drop of two back-to-back league loses that has jeopardised their quest for the title, second placed Sofapaka have re-grouped and hope to bounce back against the soldiers, despite the
fact that Ulinzi has a better head-to-head record over them.
Sofapaka have met eight times with Ulinzi Stars and only emerged winners two times, with their opponents winning the fixture five times and they shared spoils once.
“Every team come to the pitch to win, they are all tough especially in the second leg of the league, but we always have strategies for each teams and we already have a special strategy for Ulinzi on Sunday,”
Ndagano said.
Sofapaka has been boosted by the return of winger Mike Oduor who suffered a head gash on Sunday while playing against Tusker, as well as offensive midfielder Mico Justin who had to be stretched off in the same match after colliding with Tusker goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.

Sofapaka coach John Baraza has defended the use of Willis Ouma as a central defender in the current league campaign.

Ouma who was signed from Chemelil Sugar last season and deployed as a right full back by former coach Sam Ssimbwa, is currently used in central defence by Baraza where he is partnering Burundi international Mousa Omar and the coach seems satisfied with the new combination.

Initially, Ugandan international Rodgers Aloro who was preferred at the central defence, has since been deployed to the right full back position.

Naturally, Ouma is a central defender and he gives his best at that position compared to the full back position and I am fully satisfied with his partnership with Omar,” said Baraza.

New signing Dennis Odhiambo who joined from Thika United is currently preferred on the left full back position, completing the back four line up.

Sofapaka head coach John Baraza has believes his side was robbed off victory after being denied two clear penalties in their 2-1 loss to Tusker during a Monday morning league match at Ruaraka Stadium.

Baraza feels the outcome could have been different

Sofapaka head coach John Baraza is far from impressed from the way his match with Tusker was officiated . The centre referee Alex Ondima, who hails from Nakuru made several wrong decisions that cost the 2009 champions a crucial win against their league rivals Tusker.

“I laud the victor for their play but I feel the outcome would have been different if the match was officiated well” he said. Sofapaka were first to break the deadlock through Kevin Kimani, but the brewers replied through a Timothy Omondi penalty and a David Juma strike.

“Tusker’s first goal should not have been a penalty in the first place, but their second goal was clean and I blame it on our defensive lapse,” said Baraza.

He added:  “However, we deserved two penalties that could have probably seen us end the match with three goals. First goalkeeper Patrick Matasi battered Mico Justine inside the Tusker box and he was shown yellow and we ended up not getting a penalty, which is very ironical. Then Omondi clearly handled the ball inside Tusker box when we had piled up pressure during the dying minutes of the match and again the referee waved play on.”

The last time the two sides met before the Sunday clash, the tie produced nine goals with Sofapaka emerging 5-4 victors.

It will be a date between a student and his teacher when Sofapaka coach John Baraza meets his former mentor Robert Matano, now Tusker coach, in a crucial Kenyan Premier League match at Ruaraka on Sunday.
Matano signed Baraza as his key striker while he was the coach of Sofapaka on August, 2009 from league rivals Chemelil Sugar, and he helped him to win the coveted league with Sofapaka at his first attempt.
Now the two come face-to-face, this time both as team managers and Baraza says he has no love lost and all he wants to prove is to show that he learned from the best by beating his own teacher.
“Matano is very tactical. He has been my coach, infact he is the one who brought me to Sofapaka in 2009 and it will be certainly be a clash between a teacher and his student,” said Baraza.
He added: ” I want to show him that I was a good student of him by beating him on Sunday.”
The last time Tusker and Sofapaka met, Sofapaka won 4-3 and Baraza believes they can bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Sony Sugar in their last league match.
International goalkeeper Wycleff Kasaya is the only player who is not available for selection on Sunday as he is nursing a humstring injury suffered during their match against Sony, but the team has been boosted by the return of top striker Umaru Kasumba who suffered a groin injury during their league win against Wazito last month and has been missing in action for more than one month.

Hillary Echesa has retired after 20-years of service to the beautiful game.

Echesa, brought to an end a long journey that began at Nakuru Youth Olympics decades ago. as he heads into football administration.

A statement from the midfielder read:

The start is always scary and the ending so sad but what matters is in between that is worth…As I close the curtains of my football career as a player for over 20yrs,I would like to say how much this football can transform any individual who aspires to play and make a mark on his/her career.

I take this opportunity to thank abundantly all Nakuru football fraternity where it all started. Respect to coach Sammy Abida(RIP)Gabriel Muraya TM(RIP) and our father figure coach Sammy Nyongesa.would like to extend my appreciation to Nakuru youth Olympics Alumni for your all much-needed support.

I also  grateful to all clubs I rendered my service as a player both locally and abroad you will always be in my heart, and not forgetting our sports journalists who made the world to know our sportsmen and women of this beautiful game of this country. As I transit to football administration it’s my privilege to be part of this so much loved sport.

“I also grateful to all clubs I rendered my service as a player both locally and abroad, you will always be in my heart and not forgetting our sports journalists who made the world to know our sportsmen and women of this beautiful game of this country.

“I feel privileged to transit to football administration, and continue playing soccer as a team manager.”

Echesa has had illustrious career both locally and abroad, turning out for 13 different clubs including record Tanzanian champions Yanga and Rwanda side Rayon Sports.

The veteran midfielder began his KPL journey from Nzoia Sugar between 2001 and 2003 before moving to Ulinzi Stars, Mumias Sugar then Yanga.

He also turned out for the Royal Malaysia Police Football Association (PB PDRM), Tusker before ending his career at Sofapaka. He made 31 appearances for the national team, Harambee Stars and scored six goals altogether.

He also joins his fellow playmate cum now coach John Baraza at the team’s technical bench.

What a player, what a career. We at Sofapaka are happy to have him and his wealth of experience on board.

Brian Magonya scored a superb goal against Western Stima to help Sofapaka run out 4-1 winners in a last 16 tie of the Shield Cup played on Sunday 22nd July at Narok Stadium. The 2013 Shield champions are now through to the quarter finals of the tournament alongside Kariobangi Sharks, Tusker, Ulinzi, Kenya Police and Riverplate.

The goal, a rocket shot from 30 yards out left Sofapaka tactician John Baraza in praise of the youthful midfielder as it helped guide the team closer to the cup.

“It was a stunning strike from Magonya, one that highlights the quality that he possesses. It is not a shock to me nor his teammates because we have seen him do that countless times.”

Magonya’s goal was the third for Sofapaka in the game and added to first half strikes from Elly Asieche and an own goal from Mukisa Junior with Stephen Waruru putting the icing on the cake with a fourth late in the second half.

Kevin Okoth scored a consolation for the Kisumu based side.

The resounding win lifted Baraza’s belief that his charges can go all the way in the tournament.

“My players are confident and are full of belief that they can win whatever game that they are in,” he told sofapaka portal.

Two more matches will be played on Wednesday 25 July to make up the final eight

Sofapaka stormed into the last eight of the 2018 SportPesa Shield Cup courtesy of a 4-1 dismissal of Western Stima in a last 16 clash played at the Narok Stadium on Sunday 22 July.

Goals from Elly Asieche, Brian Magonya, Stephen Waruru and an own goal from Junior Mukisa secured the win for John Baraza’s men with Kevin Okoth grabbing the consolation for Western Stima.

In the second game of a planned double header in Narok, Sofapaka got the ball rolling as early as the 12th minute when a free kick from the left from Asieche evaded everyone to bounce once and into the back of the net to give Batoto ba Mungu a lead they would not relinquish for the entire game.

It would take until the 40th minute for the hosts to extend their lead though it came fortuitously as Junior Mukisa bundled a Kepha Aswani cross from the right into his own net to close off a poor first half showing for the Kisumu based side that would continue into the second stanza.

Almost immediately after the restart, Western Stima players would give themselves a lifeline when substitute Kevin Okoth pulled one back with a strike from the edge of the area.

But the goal would do little to rattle Sofapaka who responded immediately with a third goal which was a thing of beauty as Brian Magonya unleashed a cracking shot from well over 25 yards out after he had been teed up by Kevin Kimani.

The final nail in the coffin would be pounded in by Stephen Waruru who tapped in from close range a Aswani cross to keep Sofapaka’s quest for a repeat of their 2013 Shield Cup triumph alive.

Sofapaka will now join Tusker, Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya Police and Riverplate in the quarter-finals.

Two more matches will be played on Wednesday 25 July at the Kasarani Stadium.

Defending champions AFC Leopards will host third tier side Mwatate United with Posta Rangers hosting Gor Mahia in a blockbuster all Premier League clash.

Sofapaka are also playing Tusker next weekend for the premier league games