Sofapaka coach John Baraza is set to unleash new signing Mico Justin against Algerian giants USM Algiers in an international friendly at Camp Toyoyo on Wednesday from 6pm.
Justin who arrived at Sofapaka on Thursday last week after completing a move from Rwanda champions Police FC, plays as an offensive midfielder and can sometimes be used as a makeup striker, the role he plays for Rwanda national team Amavubi.
He missed Sunday’s league match against Mathare United as he had only trained once with the side, but coach Baraza would use the friendly to try different formations and see which position is best for the new player.
USM Algiers are in the country on transit to Kigali, Rwanda to play Rwanda’s league side Rayon Sport in a CAF Confederation Cup match.
Other teams in the Confed Cup group are Kenya champions Gor Mahia and Tanzania giants Yanga.

After 22 rounds of the 2018 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) played, one team hot on the heels of log leaders Gor Mahia, are optimistic that the champions will eventually slip up and allow them to catch up at the top. 

Sofapaka’s 3-2 win over Mathare United another top side on Sunday 8th at the Machakos County Stadium brings them to just within sight of the champions who are currently away on CECAFA Kagame Cup duties. They, after all can boast that they have hit 40 points too. Scoring for the team’s second goal against Mathare was the Slumboys’ former Youth player Elli Asieche, a sharp take from the spot and he believes his side will lift an accolade this year.

”There are a few things that prompted my return to Sofapaka when the year began, and one of those was to come and win a trophy with the team. Secondly was growth, and fight for my place in a team with great competition, game and players,” Elli adds.

To end the season with a trophy is a dream still alive he says. Aside from keeping up the chase in the league, John Baraza’s side are into the FKF Shield round of 16 and will face former Premiership outfit Western Stima FC, this after dispatching Baba Dogo 3-0 in the round of 32.

”I haven’t played much in the shield but we have made it to the round of 16. We host Stima next , and just like we have taken previous knock-out ties, we will take it with the seriousness it deserves because at the end of the day we also want that Shield trophy,” he adds. 

In 2016, Sofapaka faced their toughest moment when they were almost being relegated. They managed to turn around their fortunes and with the current crop of players mostly assembled by virtue of their top form from their previous stations, this is a bunch that further motivates Asieche. Character he says, is a key factor in the team and they win their matches because of maturity. 

”There’s a high level of focus in the team. Everyone looks toward the target and motivation from the management is at a high,” he adds.

Sofapaka will travel to Awendo Green Stadium- a dicey date with SoNy Sugar fc,a side who’s on a rebuilding process. 

Kepha Aswani, Elli Asieche and Piston Mutamba handed the 2009 champions maximum points despite Mathare strong pressure the final half hour of the game with Alphonce Ndonye’s goal after an hour giving them some hope, but they couldn’t go past that.

Sofapaka broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Aswani’s seemingly harmless header off an Elli Asieche free kick fizzled through keeper David Okello’s fingers and into the back of the net.

Batoto ba Mungu had to live on the edge in the final minutes of the game after Mathare piled pressure, but they had just enough within themselves to ensure they pick their third consecutive win.

It was a rewarding start for Sofapaka who seemed the most attacking of the two sides with Aswani having earlier had a shot off the left being saved by Okello. Quickly on the other end, Mathare broke off on the counter but Chris Oduor’s shot from Cliff Nyakeya’s tee up went wide. 

Aswani’s afternoon which had started brightly on a goal-scoring mood was however cut short abruptly when he had to limp off injured barely five minutes after scoring. He was replaced by Teddy Osok which now meant coach John Baraza had to re-arrange his tactical plan for the game.

Mathare collected themselves up after conceding early and they made a response in the 18th minute when Omondi scored from the penalty spot after new signing Dennis Odhiambo handled inside the box.

The game turned out to be an evenly balanced affair, the two sides doing their best to outwit each other especially in the middle of the pack. Mathare passed the ball nicely around the park, but they could not get that pass to break off the defense.

On the half hour mark, Sofapaka came close when keeper Okello had to be at his best to tip the ball over for a corner from Piston Mutamba’s curling freekick from the left.

Five minutes later, Sofapaka were 2-1 up from the penalty spot after Mutamba was axed in the box by keeper Okello after he intercepted a short back pass from left back David Owino back to the keeper. Asieche stepped up and converted.­­­­

Batoto ba Mungu kept the engine running in the second half and they needed just three minutes to stretch their lead further when Mutamba got on the score sheet after intercepting another short back pass to the keeper before gliding past and slotting in an empty net.

Mutamba should have had his brace on the hour mark after George Owino’s defensive header off a Yussuf Mohammed cross fell on his path but his eventual shot was wide.

Two minutes later, Mutamba was in the thick of things once again when he cited an intelligent run from Waruru before feeding him, but the former Ulinzi hit man’s shot from the left went over.

Against the run of play, Mathare pulled one back and started their journey for a memorable comeback when substitute Alphonce Ndonye struck a belter from inside the box catching keeper Wycliffe Kasaya off guard.

Mathare piled the pressure in the consecutive minutes pushing Sofapaka back but they could not get a goal to pick at least a point off the tie.

Sofapaka team that will face Mathare United fc at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on 08th July 2018. Starting eleven include:

Kasaya Wycliff (40)
Maelo George (08)
Yusuf Mohamed (07)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Odhiambo Dennis (02)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Asieche Elly (16)
Timothy Luda (12)
Aswani Kepha (50)
Mutamba Pistone (09)

SUBSTITUTES

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Aloro Rodgers (17)
Kilume Mohamed (04)
Osok Teddy (06)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Imbuye Sammy (24)
Mang’oli Bernard (20)

Sofapaka coach John Baraza is spoilt for choice over who to select to face title rivals Mathare United in their crucial league match at Narok Stadium on Sunday, owing to the form and commitment of the
players in training.
Former champions Sofapaka who are currently second in the table of standings lost their first leg encounter 3-1 to Mathare and Baraza believes it’s pay back time.
“I have to admit that I have a headache, because everyone is giving his best in training and they are all hungry for victory. It is a good thing for the team and I’m sure it is positive for us,” Baraza said.
He added: “The last time we played Mathare United we lost 3-1, but it doesn’t mean they were very superior on that day, it was just a bad day in office for us which happens, but this time we are well prepared for them and keen to overturn the results.”
In the striking force, Baraza has a choice of Stephen Waruru, Kepha Aswani, Pistone Mutamba, Ezekiel Okare and Umaru Kasumba to pick from.Making it a daunting task owing to the fact that all the goal getter are in a fine form.
Goalkeeper Wycliff Kasaya has also not conceded any goal since joining  the team, challenging skipper Mathew Kigonya for starting place, while the arrival of utility player Dennis Odhiambo from Thika United would also force Baraza to make some changes in his defence and midfield.
Kasaya who joined the 2009 champions from Mathare United last month will be facing his former employers, hoping to show them the value of what they let go.
Baraza said injured players Kevin Kimani, Samuel Eshikomo and Ibrahim Kitawi will be out as they are nursing different injuries, while new signing Mico Justin will only be available for selection for their
next match as he only trained with the team once after arriving in the country on Thursday. Kimani who also missed the team’s last match which was against Wazito,is nursing a hamstring injury, while Kitawi has a recurring knee injury and Eshikomo who graduated from the team’s under 20 side has knocks.

International player Dennis Odhiambo is happy to have completed a dream move to former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka in a deal that would see him stay at the team for the next two years.
Odhiambo joins from Thika United where he spent a record 10-years, has never played for any league side in his career, apart from Thika United and believes joining last seasons league runners-up would offer a new challenge for him, but he was more than ready for the challenge.
“Sofapaka is a big team and currently doing well in the league. It’s going to be a good challenge for me, because I have never played for any other team apart from Thika United who picked my from School Games a decade ago while I was playing for Manor House,” said Odhiambo.
The utility player will have to fight for a starting place against Rodgers Aloro, Humphrey Okoti, Willis Ouma and Yusuf Mohammed. “At Thika I used to play as either a holding midfielder or left full
back and at national team Harambee Stars I play as a left full back, however, I can play at any position the coach wants me to play and I will give it my best,” said the experienced player.

Mutamba who signed early June from Wazito FC has scored thrice for the club, twice in the league and once in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield. His total tally for the season in the league is seven.

“I am pushing to score more goals because the minimum bar I have set myself is to score at least 15 and be among the league’s top scorers at the end of the season. Also, I want to keep my place in the national team and to do that I need to keep scoring,” Mutamba who made his debut with Harambee Stars this year noted.

He has settled in quick at the club and has become a mainstay in a forward line that has Stephen Waruru and Kepha Aswani, who were among the league’s top three scorers last season.

“I have settled in fast because of the kind of welcome Sofapaka have given me. It has been very easy because of the support of the coaches and players. Now I want to repay their faith to help them clinch a trophy,” he said.

“When I came in, they told me that one of their targets is to win at least one trophy and I will do my best to help them achieve that. We have a chance in both the Shield and the League and we have to be at our best,” the lanky forward further noted.

Mutamba came up against his former employers on Saturday afternoon when Sofapaka take on Wazito at the Camp Toyoyo Ground in Nairobi’s Jericho estate and he sought to add his goal tally.

Sofapaka are looking to bridge the gap between them and leaders Gor who established a 15-point gulf with their 1-0 win over Sony Sugar on Friday evening.

Steven Waruru and Kepha Aswani scored a goal a piece in two minutes as they compounded Wazito to 0-2 loss thereby extending their seven game winless streak in a Kenyan Premier League match played at the Camp Toyoyo on the afternoon of Saturday 30 June. 

Wazito were out to overturn their wretched form of seven games without a win, coincidentally their last win coming against Sofapaka two months ago. John Baraza’s charges on the other hand were looking to build on their win against Tusker last time out in the league while also seeking revenge for their shock loss against Wazito. Frank Ouna handed debuts to Edwin Lavatsa who had been rumored to on the verge of joining Tusker. Sofapaka had a familiar former Wazito player leading their attack, partnered by former AFC Leopards and Nakumatt talisman Kepha Aswani.

Sofapaka started with much intent and did take look to break the deadlock through Kepha Aswani who dinked the ball over the goalkeeper Steven Njuge to hand Batoto Ba Mungu the precious early lead in the 18th minute. Wazito suffered a lapse in concentration when former Ulinzi Stars striker Steven Waruru doubled the lead inside one minute after the restart nodding in the ball home after Elli Asieche floated in a brilliant corner.

Wazito steadied their ship enjoying some decent spell of possession as they tried to pull a goal back before the half time whistle. Their efforts were however unfruitful as the half drew to a close with Sofapaka leading 2-0.

Frank Ouna had some stern words for his boys at the break as they resumed the half a much rejuvenated side dominating the early opening exchanges. Wazito thought they had halved the deficit when Joakim Ollomo’s free kick kiss the underside of the cross bar before bouncing it’s way out of the goal mouth. Wazito continued to press on for a goal that would make the tie more interesting. Omollo was a constant threat with his swerving hard hit set pieces and almost bagged a goal when his free kick beat Kasaya but Yousuf Mohammed cleared the ball off the line.

Sofapaka held on for the win which maintains their pressure of Gor Mahia at top spot while the loss compounds Wazito deep into the relegation zone. 

Sofapaka team that will face Wazito fc at the Camp Toyoyo on 30th June 2018. Starting eleven include:

Kasaya Wycliff
Aloro Rodgers
Yusuf Mohamed
Obayi Willis
Moussa Omar
Teddy Osok
Stephen Waruru
Asieche Elly
Piston Mutamba
Aswani Kepha
Umar Kasumba

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben
Maelo George
Kilume Mohamed
Oduor Micheal
Okare Ezekiel
Imbuye Sammy
Mutiria Samuel

League champions Sofapaka have completed the signing of highly rated Rwanda international Mico Justin Wakiniraga from Rwandese league giants Police.
Mico who is an attacking midfielder become the third player to be signed by Sofapaka in the on going transfer window and he penned a three-year contract at the club’s offices in Nairobi today.
The 24-year-old player can also be used as a striker as he twin striked with Jacques Tuyisenge to help Police lift the 2016 Rwandese league title. Tuyisenge currently plies his trade for Kenya league champions Gor Mahia.
Mico will have to fight for a starting place against Bernard Mang’oli, Elly Asieche, Ibrahim Kitawi and Timothy Luda.