AFC Leopards hosts Sofapaka Football Club in a Betking Premier League match Saturday 12th December.

Here is a sneak preview of the cat’s derby

Match Stats

In our last four meetings, we’ve won once, leopards winning twice while  drawing once. The last outing in Mumias, Ingwe won 2-1

Form guide

Three points separates us with our opponents who enjoy 100% league record having won their first two league fixtures. We sit sixth on the log on three points while Leopards are placed second on six points.

Team News

Timely return of Paul Kiongera, Promise Chinonso and Willis Obayi

Paul Kiongera: Hip Injury.

Fully fit and back in group training.

Promise Chinonso: Groin Injury.

Chinonso back after a long injury, the forward resumed full training earlier in the week.

Willis Obayi: Knee Injury.

Captain Obayi sat out of Western Stima clash due to a knock on his right knee. The defender is fully recovered and resumed full training with the team.

Injuries update

Michael Bodo: Groin Injury.

We shall miss the services of Michael Bodo who’s out recovering.

Isaac Mitima: Knee Injury

Rwandan centre back Isaac Mitima will miss leopards clash having sustained knee injury during Western Stima match.

Time: Saturday 12th December 3pm local time.

Venue: Moi Stadium, Kasarani.

Live Match: The match will be live on Burudani TV and on Startimes App.

AFC Leopards hosts Sofapaka Football Club in round three of the Betking Premier League season. Ahead of the clash head coach John Baraza has termed the match important in club’s push for the league title.

On whether the tie is crucial;
Yes with no doubt this a big clash and a very crucial one for us as a club. We are facing a side that is equally challenging for title so it won’t be a walk in the park.

On team preparations;
We have had a good preparation towards the match, the seriousness of this match has been translated in our training sessions and am confident that we are well prepared.

On whether bragging rights at stake;
This a big clash and as you all know it’s always termed the “cat’s derby” thus the bragging right is fully at stake and we as a club want to emerge winners on Saturday.

On Injuries;
So far so good we have been boosted with a timely return of our three important players, Promise Chinonso, Paul Kiongera and Willis Obayi. As a coach am pleased because this gives us the depth and options. We however will still miss defender Michael Bodo and Brian Magonya who got a knock in our last match.

On whether it’s a must win match;
Building a momentum is very vital, it also helps in instilling confidence and a winning mentality. Definitely we are going for a win on Saturday because we want to make it two out of two in a row.

The match will be staged at Kasarani Stadium and will be live on TV.

Trio timely boost ahead of AFC Leopards Clash

Forwards Paul Kiongera, Promise Chinonso and defender Willis Obayi have all resumed training.

Ahead of our clash with AFC Leopards ,the club has been handed a a massive boost with timely recovery of forwards Paul Kiongera, Promise Chinonso and defender Willis Obayi.

Paul Kiongera – Hip Injury
Striker Kiongera has been out for a month having suffered a hip Injury, forward fully fit and back in full training

Promise Chinonso – Groin Injury
Nigerian forward suffered a groin injury, striker fully healed and back in full training.

Willis Obayi – Knee knock
Obayi suffered a knock his right knee in our opening match against Bandari. The defender is back training with the team. CleanFilter – efektyvūs filtrai rekuperatoriams už konkurencingą kainą

We take on AFC Leopards on Saturday at the Kasarani Stadium.

Sofapaka Football Club beat Western Stima 3:1 in a thrilling encounter at the Danson Mwanyumba Stadium,Wundanyi.
A double both halfs from club Captain Ellie Asieche and a third from second half substitute Kepha Aswani gave the club her first victory of the new FKF- Premier League season.

Speaking after the match captain Asieche lauded his teammates for the perfect and needed response against Western Stima;
” We were coming into the match after a loss whilst facing Stima who got a point in the first game,equally we were playing for the first time at home,thus pressure was on us to give a good response.”
“Am glad we as a team did play our part because a win was needed to kickstart our season. My teammates gave a good statement yesterday and we want to carry on from yesterday’s win.”

On his part head coach John Baraza praised his players for a job well done;
“Yesterday was a must win match for us we had no option but to give a response and yes we did. Am proud of the playing unit , they played to instructions,we created and utilised our chances. Work has just began and we want to get positive results moving forward.

The team will face AFC Leopards in our third league game.

We host Western Stima fc at the Wundanyi Stadium, Taita Taveta County on Sunday 6th Dec 2020 for our season’s second match and inaugural host match Betking PL 2020/2021 league round two and this is our lineup as presented by our Head Coach John Baraza and the technical bench.

Starting eleven include:

Kevin Omondi .35
Roy Okal .10
Mike Kibwage .12
Brian Nyakan .14
Elli Asieche .16 (C)
Michael Karamor .19
Titus Achesa .20
Isaac Mitima .23
Lawrence Juma .24
Sammy Imbuye .25
Sebastine Ikekhai Sunday .66

SUBSTITUTES
Richard Aimo .32
Brian Magonya .2
Mohammed Kilume .4
Faina Jacobs .6
Ambrose Sifuna .11
David Simiyu .18
Jedinak Ameyaw Nana .26
Nixon Omondi .28
Kefa Aswani .50     

We take on Western Stima in our second and our very first home match of the season in Wundanyi Stadium. Head coach John Baraza talks on the clash, team preparation and injuries.

On team preparations;
The response has been immense after our defeat in Mombasa, we identified into our areas of concern and that has been our main doing to rectify and get it better. We have a good side and everyone has shown a positive attitude in training ahead of Western Stima duel.”

On Western Stima match;
“We started not in the right way but it is a start and we now have to respond effectively. We face Stima on Sunday and we are going for maximum points because we have to get back on track with a win.”

On Injuries
“No major concerns we lost captain Willis Obayi after our clash in Mombasa, we equally will have to do without the duo of Michael Bodo who picked up a hamstring injury in training and Stephan Okola who sustained an ankle injury.”

We play Western Stima on Sunday.

Sofapaka would like to announce the appointment of Frank Okoth as the new Sporting Director of the club.
Okoth a graduate at the Wits Business School in South Africa with a degree in Sports Management, has a rich history in football administration being a founder of World Hope fc which was later changed to Nairobi City Stars, he was also the founder and coach of Intercity FC that plays in the lower league, he has been a football analyst with SuperSport, and the Chief Operations Manager at the Kenyan Premier League.
“We are happy to have Frank Okoth as part of our team and I would like to welcome him to Sofapaka family as we plan to scale the heights together,” said Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa.

We are hosted by Bandari fc at the Mbaraki Stadium, Mombasa on Saturday 28th Nov 2020 for our season’s premiere opening match Betking PL 2020/2021 league round one and this is our lineup as presented by our Head Coach John Baraza and the technical bench.

Starting eleven include:

Kevin Omondi .35
Willis Obayi .3 
Mohammed Kilume .4
Faina Jacobs .6
Roy Okal .10
Mike Kibwage .12
Elli Asieche .16 (C)
Michael Karamor .19
Titus Achesa .20
Lawrence Juma .24
Jedinak Ameyaw Nana .26

SUBSTITUTES
Richard Aimo .32
Ambrose Sifuna .11
Isaac Mitima .23
Sammy Imbuye .25
Nixon Omondi .28
Kefa Aswani .50
Sebastine Ikekhai Sunday .66

International midfielder Lawrence Juma will wear jersey number 24 at his new club Sofapaka for the new season that starts tomorrow, November 28 with a Premier League match against Bandari at the Mbaraki Sports Ground.
Juma who joined Sofapaka from league rivals Gor Mahia was among 12 players unveiled today at the team’s new home ground, the Wundanyi Stadium in Taita Taveta County.
Former KCB defender Mike Kibwage will be dawning jersey number 12, while Roy Okal who joined the 2009 champions from Mathare United will put on jersey number 10.
Other players unveiled included goalkeeper Kevin Omondi and midfielder Paul Kiongera from Wazito, defenders Nixon Omondi and Michael Bodo from Kariobangi Sharks, striker Michael Karamor from Lagos Athletics Club, defender Isaac Mitima from APR of Rwanda and four players from Soy United, Bryson Juma (defender), Amdrose Sifuna (midfielder), Simon Mwambogha (goalkeeper).

“Whenever you see a team sign more than 10 players, know that, that team means business and is going for nothing less than the league title,” said Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa during the function.
He added: “Another thing to note is that Wundanyi Stadium would by our home ground and we plan to play all our home matches here going forward.
The people of Wundanyi have showed us love and we want to make this fortress a slaying ground for our opponents.”
Head coach John Baraza exuded confidence ahead of their season opening match against Bandari tomorrow, saying they had prepared well with a number of friendly matches, with the last build-up being a 1-0 win over Mwatate United at their new home.

SOFAPAKA NEW PLAYERS:
Roy Okal (Midfielder, Mathare)
Kevin Omondi (Goalkeeper, Wazito FC)
Paul Kiongera (Midfielder, Wazito FC)
Nixon Omondi (Defender, Kariobangi Sharks)
Michael Kibwage (Defender, KCB)
Lawrence Juma (Midfielder, Gor Mahia)
Michael Bodo (Defender, Kariobangi Sharks)
Michael Karamor (Striker, Lagos Athletics Club)
Isaac Mitima (Defender, APR Rwanda)
Ambrose Sifuna (Midfielder, Soy United)
Simon Mwambogha (Goalkeeper, Soy United)
Bryson Juma (Defender, Soy United)

Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa and the entire Sofapaka family are deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of a true legend of world football, Argentine Diego Maradona.

It is a sad day for the football fraternity in the whole world as we mourn a real legend of the beautiful game. He will not only be remembered as one of the greatest the sport ever produced, but also for his passion for football.

World of football has suffered a major blow for losing such a key figure.

On behalf of the Sofapaka family, I wish to sincerely extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, Argentines, his former clubs, and football fans worldwide in general.

Sofapaka president,
Elly Kalekwa