MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES FROM SOFAPAKA PRESIDENT ELLY KALEKWA

I have learnt with deep shock and disbelief of the passing away of former Football Kenya Limited (FKL) chairman Mohammed Hatimy following his untimely death last night.
Hatimy was a good and strong leader who promoted football in the country in different capacities. He was a dedicated leader who worked tirelessly to put Kenyan football in the global and continental map.
On behalf of the Sofapaka family, we convey our deep sorrow, sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and entire football fraternity for such a big loss in the sport.
May God offer strength and comfort his loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Elly Kalekwa
Sofapaka FC president

We can confirm we have part ways with five squad members ahead of the new season.

The five are Brian Kayanja, Nicholas Sebwato, Cersidy Okeyo, Isaiah Wakasala and Thomas Wainaina.

Brian Kayanja, Nicholas Sebwato and Thomas Wainaina have left the club on mutual consent while keeper Isaiah Wakasala and Cersidy Okeyo leave the club after expiry of their contracts.

We thank them for their services and wish them well

Captain George Maelo has officially retired from active football.

Club Captain Maelo has finally called it a day from football after 17 years in the game . Maelo joined the club from Police FC in July 2016 and went on to serve the club for four years.

‘I’m so happy and proud for what God has done to me with my talent, all the years of my career I didn’t encounter any serious injury and when fully fit I managed to play a junk of the matches. As a leader I did my best on and off the pitch for the betterment of the team.

Football has built me as person and taught me alot about life. At Sofapaka I found a second family where unity and love prevails. The club forms and holds a huge part of me, the trust from the management and everyone in the team meant a lot. I love Sofapaka family and I wish the team the very best.” Said Maelo.

On his part the club head coach John Baraza has lauded the defender for his leadership and commitment: “He, Maelo has been so outstanding since he joined us, he came in when we were battling relegation and during our tough times as a team he did a lot in supporting the club. He’s so selfless, hardworking and so disciplined, he made work easier for us as a technical bench. He’s definitely headed for greatness in life and as a team we wish him success.”

As a way of appreciating his good deeds and in line with his profession, the club has appointed Maelo as head of security

ASANTE SANA MAELO

Head coach John Baraza has confirmed midfielder Elli Asieche new club captain.

Asieche who has been with club for the past three years since his return, will captain the team beginning 2020/21 season. He takes over from immediate former club captain George Maelo.

“I’m happy for this new capacity and challenge, it shows a lot of trust and faith in me from head coach and the entire team. I look forward to leading and helping the club in right way.” Asieche expressed his delight upon appointment.

Subsequently coach Baraza has confirmed the appointment of Willis Obayi and Michael Kibwage as first and second club assistant captains.

Welcome Karamor! 

Nigerian forward joins Sofapaka Football Club.

Nigerian International Karamor Tuborlayefa Michael has signed a two-year deal to join us ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The forward joins the club from Nigerian side Lagos Athletico for the next two seasons.

Karamor becomes the club’s fifth signing after having secured the services of Michael Bodo, Kevin Omondi, Roy Okal and Paul Kiongera.

Welcome Karamor !

We are pleased to announce we have secured the signature of defender Michael Bodo from Kariobangi Sharks .

Bodo who played a critical role in the promotion Kariobangi Sharks in 2016 and participating in CAF Confederation Cup tournament in 2018 joins our defensive department in a bid to tighten our back.

The former Thika United player has inked a three-year deal with club that will see him with “BatotoBaMungu” for the next three seasons.

Bodo becomes our third signing ahead of the new 2020/21 season.

Welcome to Sofapaka family Bodo .

Betting firm Betika renews sponsorship deal with Sofapaka

Sofapaka have renewed their partnership with Betika for two more years in a deal worth Shs 77M for the next two seasons.

The deal comes after the expiry of the previous one-year deal sponsorship worth Shs 35M in May 2020. This subsequently is a 10% increment from the previous 35M for the next two seasons.

In an event held at the club’s training ground in Eastleigh, club president Elly Kalekwa welcomed Betika’s continued partnership with the club, “We are glad to have our partnership with Betika continue to grow. We are delighted to have the firm once again come to our aid during these uncertain times. We hope this will go a long way in motivating the players to effectively deliver on the pitch.”

” I want to thank Betika for being with us over the years and we promise to continue to work with them in the future” concluded Club President

Betika’s head of Business Mr. John Mbatia expressed his satisfaction on the club’s progress adding they will continue to support the club to nurture talents.

Sofapaka Football Club is demanding an apology from Shikanda for uncalled utterance on the team despite all the accolades the 2009 league winners enjoy.

The club’s president Mr. Elly Kalekwa has termed Shikanda’s utterances as disrespectful and demands an immediate apology.

The Leopard’s chairman made the remarks during a live Facebook show hosted by one Carol Radull dubbed Radull Live. “Without Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, there is no football in Kenya. I just know KCB as a bank and not a football team and I have never known a team calling itself Sofapaka,” said Shikanda. 

“This is lack of respect and we demand an immediate apology from AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda. He should know that Sofapaka is in the world history books as one of the teams that won the Kenyan Premier League(KPL) on its debut season,” Kalekwa said.

The chairman further added “All the teams playing in the top flight league need to be respected. When AFC Leopards was relegated did the league stop? It is not fair to talk ill of Sofapaka because since we joined the top flight league we have represented the country at the continental competitions.”

The president concluded by urging the Leopards chairman the two clubs have had a cordial relationship since time in memorial and therefore asked him to honor their deal on Rwandese defender Soter Kayumba loan deal move.

Ends of Statement

Sofapaka FC would wish to inform the public in regards to striker John Avire’s transfer saga with the striker missing from the club since July last year.

The club protested a decision made by World Football Governing body FIFA. Through a single judge seating in the Players’ Status Committee Mr. Geoffrey Thompson, the judge ruled that Avire who has been illegally training with Egyptian league side Tanta FC be given a Provisional International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to enable the player feature for the Egyptian side as the matter continues to be investigated by the World football governing body.

Though they considered the player’s welfare and not the club’s, It’s good to note that Avire is still a Sofapaka FC player and has a running contract that expires in December 2020.

“We feel cheated and robbed since the directive has gone against FIFA statutes. This therefore means the said player has two running contracts with two different clubs.

Further, we would wish to inform members of the public and football fans at large that Tanta fc has never reached out on us in a view to resolve this impulse since it happened but rather we have been approached by people who are very familiar to us purporting to be negotiating on their behalf.

We wrote to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and FIFA protesting the decision because the player has a valid contract with us and further we question the possible outcome in the event he gets injured while playing for Tanta FC during the provisional period. They may as well chase him yet there’s no binding agreement between Sofapaka and Tanta FC.

As a club we further question why FIFA upto date haven’t acknowledged the letter sent by FKF on Avire’s saga for months now, yet they responded so fast after the Egyptian FA on behalf of Tanta FC wrote to them.

Sofapaka FC trusts the process being undertaken by FIFA,we hope for a free and fair ruling on this issue. In the meantime we are in consultations with FKF and we are contemplating to move to the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) for arbitration.

We therefore thank FKF for their continuous support and cooperation and we hope this matter will be put to rest because we want football to win.”
End of Statement by the club’s president,

Elly Kalekwa.