Our full attention shifts to Shield Cup game, the FKF Betway Cup this weekend with a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Continental football at stake.

In a round of 16 knockout draw done a fortnight ago, we shall take on Bandari FC on Saturday 14th March at Mbaraki Stadium.

Speaking to the club’s media, head coach John Baraza has termed the clash a final and a must win match for the club.

On facing shield defending champions Bandari fc;

It’s going to be a massive game for both sides but so important for us as a team. They are a good side especially at home and that will make it even harder but we are ready to face them. We haven’t had a good season and this an opportunity to revive ourselves and thus we are going to give our all in the match.

 On the importance of the match;

The match is so important to us because it presents a realistic opportunity to win a trophy this season and subsequently grace Continental football. The club values the tournament because of the glory and pride that comes along with it. 

On the teams preparation;

We have had good preparations so far, the players have been positive despite the setbacks we’ve had in our most recent matches. We have been working on our finishing and as well on our defending because we feel the two areas have been of concern.

On whether the match is s must win;

Definitely yes, it’s a tie that we as a club have to win to increase on our chances to being crowned champions of the tournament. Despite being a tough encounter, we have no other option but to win so as to advance to the quarter finals and subsequently all the way to the finals of the FKF cup games. 

On injury concerns for team ahead of the clash;

From our medical department, we are doing pretty well as per today Wednesday 11th February. We are at 90 % of  recovery ,we missed a couple of first team players but since the beginning of the week a number resumed training which is a plus for us. We just have a few knocks but we are hopeful they will be okay before the tie on Sartuday. ” Concluded  Baraza. 

The match will be a knockout affair in which the winner will qualify for the quarter finals stage of the tournament.

Sofapaka FC will take on Zoo Kericho FC in a Kenyan Premier League match Friday 6th March.

We shall take on host Zoo Kericho Friday afternoon at Green Stadium, Kericho. Ahead of the match, head coach John Baraza has termed the clash a tough encounter but a must win tie.

Match Stats

In our seven league meetings, we’ve won in six occasions, drawing once. In the first leg tie we emerged 2:1 winners in a match staged at Narok Stadium

Form guide

Fifteen points separates us. Our opponents are placed fourteen on the log on 15points while we sit eighth on 30points. In our last three league outings we have won once losing twice while our opponents are winless in their past three league outings.

Team News

Richard Aimo (Burial)

We are set to do without out custodian Richard Aimo. Aimo lost his elder brother and thus will be away for the burial ceremony scheduled for Saturday 7th March 

David Simiyu (foot)

We will miss the services of David Simiyu who sustained a foot injury against Ulinzi Stars

Thomas Wainaina (Knee)

Wainaina will sit out of the tie having sustained a knee injury last weekend.

Elli Asieche (Shoulder Sprain)

We will once more miss the services of dependable midfielder Elli Asieche. Elli sustainedthe injury when we faced AFC Leopards.

Time: Friday 6th March 3pm.

We shall take on host Zoo Kericho in a Kenyan Premier League match on Friday 6th March.

In a match that will be staged at Green Stadium, Kericho, defender Titus Achesa has urged his teammates to remain positive and go for a win;

“We are on a bad run of results as a club. We lost our previous two matches away and home to AFC Leopards and Ulinzi Stars respectively.

It is a huge concern to us as team and the entire Sofapaka family. We haven’t had a convincing consistency run and I believe it’s a big worry to the team and we want to correct that starting on Friday.

We have been preparing well ahead of the match on Friday, the energy levels and positive attitude is high and  I believe we should be able come out with a convincing results on Friday. 

I want to urge my fellow teammates to be positive and stronger mentality because such situation always calls for a strong mentality and a positive attitude. It’s only these two that will help us get back on the right frame and hopefully propel us back to winning ways come Friday.” Concluded Achesa.

Achesa will be hopeful to be in contention and help the team register a positive result on Friday 

Zoo Kericho FC will on Friday 6th March host us at the Green Stadium, Kericho. Ahead of the match, head coach John Baraza has termed the tie a tough but a must win match.

On facing Zoo Kericho in Kericho;

It’s going to be a very tough match for us because they Zoo are the host and equally both sides lost in their past two matches.  They Zoo and us are both looking for a win and this will make it a hard one.

On whether loosing consecutively a big concern;

We haven’t had a good run last month losing two matches in a row. It a huge concern to us as a team and as the technical bench. It has to some extent tampered with the players confidence and in addition brought in more pressure on my side as the head coach. We talked about it and our focus now is on collecting ourselves and moving forward promptly as possible. We want to get our confidence back and have a proper consistency level. 

On our season objective and target; Well we had our targets and that was to win the league, unfortunately we are abit off the race and so we are focusing on finishing in a respectable position. We believe we can achieve by turning around our season starting this Friday in Kericho.

On whether Zoo match a must win one;

As early said it will be a tough one but equally the pressure is really on us as a unit to deliver and as such we have to win the tie to at least relieve us off the pressure and get ourselves back on track. 

On any injury concerns;

We have some injury and knock  concerns, we missed Elli Asieche last weekend and we further lost two others last weekend while facing Ulinzi Stars. We are hopeful that they be okay in time for Friday’s match. 

The match will kick off 3pm at Green Stadium Kericho.

Promise Chinonso was on target scoring a brace in our emphatic 3:1 victory over Gor Mahia on Saturday 8 February.

Speaking to the club’s media, Promise  expressed his delight scoring a brace and described Elli Asieche as “Kevin De Bryune of Kenya”. 

On beating Gor Mahia,” we are and particularly am delighted to have helped the team beat one of the biggest clubs in East Africa. It was a huge win for us as a club because we really needed it. We knew it was going to be a tough match but we prepared well, worked on our weak areas and studied their areas of weakness. We simply followed our coaches instructions and the result speaks for it.”

On whether it was surprise beating Gor Mahia,” in football there are never surprises, it’s always down to how you prepare for match and execute your game plan. We played according to our game plan and it worked for us.”

On scoring a brace against Gor Mahia,”it’s a nice feeling for sure, I feel great having scored them, I’m glad because it has boosted my confidence being my second match and I was able to score two. It’s a good feeling indeed.”

On whether scoring a brace has eased pressure on him,” yeah honestly the two goals over the weekend has eased pressure on me. I was feeling the pressure because the club has higher expectations in me and they trust in my capabilities. In my first match I didn’t score then we were facing a big team in the second match, the pressure was there and I really needed to score. Am glad that at the end I did manage to score thus it has to a huge part eased pressure on me.”

On scoring fastest goal for the club, “I’m happy to have achieved a fete that is hard to come by. It feels good to have scored within 23 seconds of play, it helped us settle in the match and contributed to our win overall.”

On Elli Asieche’s contribution, “He’s a special player, for me he’s Kenyan version of ‘Kevin De Bryune’  very intelligent on the ball and whenever he has the ball we know how to just position ourselves because he delivers to you to finish off. I wish him the very best now and in the future.”

On whether we stand a chance for the title,” football is a game of numbers, for you to be a champion you must win your matches and score as many goals as possible. We are not off yet, we are 14points off the top spot and we got 12 matches to go. It’s down to ensuring we collect maximum points in each match without focusing on our competitors. I believe we can achieve it.” Concluded Chinonso.

Promise will be hoping to continue with his goal scoring touch when the club takes on Balaji EPZ in FKF Betway Cup tournament.

Sofapaka thrashed Gor Mahia in a Kenyan Premier League match Saturday 8th February.

Fastest KPL goal

In a match staged at Narok Stadium, we took an early lead within 32seconds of the match through Promise Chinonso who headed in Elli Asieche’s delivery.

Onyango levels

Fourteen minutes later our opponents leveled the scoreline through Samuel Onyango who headed in past keeper Aimo Richard . 

Kayanja’s chance

With just a minute before the half time breather, we almost restored our lead but a quick reaction by Momanyi Charles denied Brian Kayanja’s goal bound effort with keeper Mapigano well beaten.

Promise’s double

We restored our lead in the 55th minute through Nigerian Promise Chinonso who once again headed in Elli Asieche’s delivery from a resultant corner kick.

Sunday’s screamer 

In a largely dominant half we struck the third of the match through Sebastine Sunday whose thunderbolt shot went in past David Mapigano in goal for Gor Mahia. 

The wins brings to end our winless run against Gor Mahia. We move a place up in the log on eighth position.

Next assignment

We shall take on Balaji EPZ in FKF Betway Cup. 

We host Gor Mahia fc at the Narok Stadium, Machakos on Saturday 8th February 2020 for our KPL 2019/2020 league round twenty tie and this is our lineup as presented by our Head Coach John Baraza and the technical bench.

Starting eleven include:

Richard Aimo .32
Willis Obayi .3  (C)
Mohammed Kilume .4
Brian Kayanja .9
Elli Asieche .16
Jedinak Ameyaw Nana .17
Titus Achesa .20
Sammy Imbuye .25
Stephen Otieno .27
Promise Chinonso Uzoagba .33
Sebastine Ikekhai Sunday .66

SUBSTITUTES
Isaiah Wakasala .30
Faina Jacobs .6
Collins Wakhungu .7
Cersidy Okeyo .10
Thomas Wainaina .12
David Simiyu .18
Ronald Okoth .23

Sofapaka will host Gor Mahia in a Kenyan Premier League match slated for Saturday 8th February. 

We shall be meeting in a just a fortnight ago in which Gor emerged winners. 

Ahead of the clash, head coach John Baraza has described the match an opportunity to stop the league leaders,” We have prepared well for the match I think and feel we are ready for tomorrow’s clash and I hope we are going  to stop them. The players have been positive despite having not had good results against them. We have made the players aware that we want to get going and the plan is to get three points and I hope we are going to get the points starting tomorrow.” Said Baraza

Match Stats 

We haven’t had a good run against Gor Mahia and the coach would wish to put to an end the poor run with the last outing two weeks ago ending 2:1 in favour of the league leaders. 

Form guide

We are placed 10th on the log with just a win in 2020. Our opponents top the table on 44points and are on a good run having won all there four matches since the beginning of the of the year.

Team News

All players are available for selection except for keeper Nicholas Sebwato who has a knock on his knee, striker Brian Nyakan ankle knock and Brian Magonya who is continuing with his rehab after a successful surgery.

Time: Saturday 8th February 4:15pm

Venue: Narok stadium.

Gor Mahia FC will host Sofapaka FC in a Kenyan Premier League match slated for Wednesday 29th at Moi Stadium, Kisumu. 

We shall take on host Gor Mahia Wednesday afternoon in a rescheduled league tie and ahead of the match, striker Kefa Aswani has urged his teammates to give their best for a win; “We haven’t been consistent in the last few games and it’s time we get back on track.  We didn’t have a good outing as we had expected against Chemelil Sugar and so we need to bounce back to winning ways.” We are going to face a technical side thus we need to be very cautious at the back and utilise our changes upfront. “I urge my fellow teammates to give their best to ensure we emerge victorious tomorrow.” He added.

Match Stats 

We go into Wednesdays match seeking to get back on track. We shall be seeking to win for the first time in our last four meetings in which we have managed a draw while our opponents have won in three occasions with a total of twelve goals scored.

Form guide

We are placed ninth while our rivals are positioned second on the log. Past three league outings both sides have lost once while winning and drawing twice respectively. 

Team News

No injury concerns, all players are fit and available for selection.  Our opponents are equally having no injury concerns and every player should be available for tomorrow’s match.

Venue: Moi Stadium, Kisumu.

Time: Wednesday 29th January 15:00pm

Head coach John Baraza has expressed readiness ahead of Kenyan Premier League clash against Gor Mahia FC.

Ahead of tomorrow’s crunch tie, club head coach John Baraza has expressed readiness saying;  “We didn’t have a good outing away in Muhoroni against Chemelil Sugar. We didn’t play well in the first half of the match that largely affected our game plan. In the second half they scored the equalizer and afterwards they defended solidly locking our attempts on goal.” 

“On tomorrow’s duel, we are ready, we have trained well, I feel we have rectified on our  areas of weakness and I believe tomorrow we shall have a totally different game. ”

“Gor Mahia are a good side and they are out to win, so are we because we have to bounce back to winning ways. It’s going to be a very difficult and interesting match. “Said Baraza.

We are hosted by Gor Mahia on Wednesday 29th January at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.