John Avire scored late on as Sofapaka came from a goal down to pick a 2-2 draw against Ulinzi Stars and a draw on the road in the fourth match of the 2018/2019 season at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Saturday.

Sofapaka had gone ahead through Dennis Odhiambo but Ulinzi struck twice in quick succession in the second half before Avire ensured the spoils were shared.

Odhiambo broke the deadlock on the half hour mark with a delightful finish, a first time volley unmarked from a Cliff Kasuti cross.

Prior to the goal, Sofapaka had chances to score. Odhiambo had a chance in the 12^th minute when he rose at the edge of the six yard box to link up to a Cornelius Juma cross, but the header went over.

Five minutes later, Titus Achesa clipped the upside of the crossbar with his free kick from the right curling over the wall.

The flurry of chances continued and in the 22nd minute, Mike Oduor broke into the box from a deep cross and controlled it well with keeper James Saruni off his line, but he could not finish past the shot stopper.

Six minutes later, Avire had a chance when he broke into the box but his shot was saved. He followed up on the rebound and was clipped inside the box but the ref waved play on.

A minute later, Stephen Waruru had a chance to claw his former employers when a cross from Elli Asieche found him at the edge of the six yard box, but he couldn’t get a strong impact on the shot.

The blushes were wiped though when Odhiambo broke the deadlock.

Five minutes to the break, Avire should have surely had a goal of his own when he broke the offside trap to race to a Kasuti cross, but his first control let him down as it took him off target.

Ulinzi came back with more pressure in the second half and keeper Richard Aimo produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn behind Daniel Waweru’s free kick for a corner in the 55^th minute.

But the hosts did not relent and scored two quick goals via Enosh Ochieng. The forward headed home from a cross from the left before finishing off four minutes later via a Waweru delivery.

Sofapaka pushed in the final minutes to get their lead back and they had some hope in the 83rd minute when Avire beautifully looped a header over Saruni.

Twice, Avire should have won the game for Sofapaka but his efforts were not on target.

Just two minutes after scoring, he controlled a cross well at the edge of the six yard box and with two of the chasing defenders down, he failed to beat the keeper blasting the ball over. He had another chance again when he burst into the box, but his low shot with the keeper at his mercy went wide.

Sofapaka team that will face Ulinzi fc at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru on Saturday 29th December 2018 for the Sportpesa Premier League Championship.

Starting eleven include:

Richard Aimo .32
Dennis Odhiambo .02
Elli Asieche .03
Titus Achesa .20
Moussa Omar .15
Cliff Kasuti .33
Soter Kayumba .24
John Avire .40
Micheal Oduor .11
Stephen Waruru (C) .22
Cornelius Juma .07

SUBSTITUTES

Isaiah Wakasala .39
Willis Obayi .03
Tevin Omutere .19
Ibrahim Kajuba .25
Piston Mutamba .09
Brian Magonya .26
Kepha Aswani .50

Rwandese defender Soter Kayumba was called in to make his debut 30 minutes into last weekend’s 2-2 draw with AFC Leopards and with regular Humphrey Okoti uncertain for this weekend’s clash away to Ulinzi Stars in Nakuru, Kayumba will be in line for his full debut.

The centre back says he is ready to step in and says he has assimilated into the team with ease since joining mid last month.

“I feel at home so far because I have managed to gel in well with the team. This is a good club and one which is ambitious and it goes in line with my own targets as a player and I am ready to give my best on the pitch when called upon,” he says.

Looking back at his debut against AFC;

“It was a very tough game and a derby of sorts. We wanted to play for all the three points and it was unfortunate we didn’t. But still, the one we got will push us somewhere.”

On the Ulinzi game on Saturday;

“That is another tough game for us. I have been told that Ulinzi is a very tough team but we should be able to go there, work as a team and get all the points. We have managed four so far and it will be important for us to ensure we get our second win.”

Sofapaka boss Melis Medo has admitted it will not be a walk in the park on Saturday when the team faces Ulinzi Stars at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, saying the team is braced for a tough clash.

The two sides face off in a match day four clash and coach Medo says the team has worked hardr in training to go for all three points away from home.

“I know it will not be an easy game. It will be a clash of the titans. They know we are not an easy team and we know they are not an easy team, but we have worked on our game plan and all we want is three points,” the tactician pointed out.

“We have trained very well this week and we have worked to eliminate the bad things and improve on the things we are doing okay. We are ready to continue our campaign in a positive way.”

On how the team is shaping up three games into the new season, Medo says he is satisfied so far.

“We need to keep working. Half the team is new and we got to give them some time to blend in and get comfortable with each other. But so far so good, I am happy with how we are building and every day every week it gets better.

The tactician has also provided an update on the injuries.

Justin Mico (knee) and Umaru Kassumba (hamstring) are definite absentees while defender Humphrey Okoti (hamstring) will need a late decision.

 “Mico had an unbelievable injury last week. His knee just twisted a bit in warm up before the AFC game and it changed our plans. He has not yet resumed training and he will be out now when I need him the most. Paps (Okoti) should be okay. He still has a little bit of pain but we will see how he is. Kassumba should be back in training next week because he has fully recovered,” the tactician stated.

Sofapaka team that will face AFC Leopards at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Saturday 22th December 2018 for the Sportpesa Premier League Championship.

Starting eleven include:

Richard Aimo (32)
Dennis Odhiambo (02) (C)
Cornelius Juma (07) 
Titus Achesa (20)
Moussa Omar (15)
Cliff Kasuti (33)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
John Avire (40)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Justin Mico (10)
Pistone Mutamba (09)

SUBSTITUTES

Isaiah Wakasala (39)
Samuel Mutiria (19)
Faina Jacobs (06)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Soter Kayumba (24)
Elli Asieche (16)

Striker Cornelius Juma says he is more than delighted after completing his move from Mount Kenya United, signing a two-year contract to re-unite with his former coach Melis Medo at Sofapaka. Juma put pen to paper on Friday afternoon, having trained with the side from Tuesday.

“I really feel pleased to have signed for Sofapaka because it is a great team with huge plans and ambition and as a player, it goes in line with what I want to achieve. When I heard they would be interested in me, it wasn’t hard to make that decision and I am glad I am here now,” the 23-year old striker offered.

“I have felt at home since the first training session and I have already integrated with the team. The training is great and there is a lot of camaraderie in the team,” he further stated.

On the influence coach Medo had on his decision to join Sofapaka;

“He is a coach I worked with for six months and I knew that coming in here, it would be hard to settle down because I know how he works and what he demands. Furthermore, he knows my abilities and he knows how to get the best out of me so I am really certain that I will improve under his leadership.”

On his plans for the season and what he wants to achieve at Sofapaka;

“My primary target this season is to score 14 goals and that is what I will work hard for. The team has an ambition to win a trophy this season and that aligns to what I also want to achieve. Together, if each of us works hard, then I know that is a target we can achieve.”

On the qualities and attributes he brings into the team;

“Along my career path, I have learnt to work hard and be persistent and I believe in myself. I am hungry for success and I want to bring that into the team as well.”

Goalkeeper Richard Aimo says he feels at home having moved to the capital from Chemelil Sugar and he believes the transfer was the wisest decision for him as he looks to grow his career.

Aimo has been standing between the sticks in the opening two games and he says he feels massive improvement and can’t wait to do more for the team.

“I really thank God for the opportunity to come to Sofapaka. That was a great decision and a step up in my career. I am happy to be here and it has not been hard to integrate because the players have been welcoming and made me feel right at home from day one,” the goalkeeper said.

His biggest convincing factor in aiding his decision to leave Chemelil was the fact that he has the possibility of winning titles and has vowed to do his best as a player to improve and help the team achieve their targets.

“Definitely that is one of my objectives in the team because as a player, you always want to win something. If we can work together as a team I have no doubt that we will achieve great things,” he added.

On his first two games and Saturday’s showdown against AFC Leopards;

“The first game was great because we won. The second game was good as well, we played well as a team and unlucky to have lost. But we put that behind us and focus on AFC which will be a very tough game. They are a good team and we don’t expect it easy, but we should go in to win,” stated the shot stopper.

Having fully bounced back from a niggling knee injury that limited his playing time after joining Sofapaka, midfielder Justin Mico is focused on improving his personal attributes and earning more playing time at the club.

The Rwandese joined Sofapaka in July from Police FC in Kigali, but couldn’t play consistently after picking up a knee injury in training. But, he has recovered well and has been in the starting 11 for the first two games of the season.

“I really feel happy that I can play again because I have worked really hard to get back fit from that knee injury. I have been training well since we began pre-season and I am hoping of doing my best and improving every day,” Mico said.

On his targets for the new season, winning trophies and getting back to the Rwandese national team tops his targets.

“We need to lift a trophy this season and personally for me, I want to work hard and play a role in seeing that happen, be it in scoring goals or assisting, I am ready to play my part. Also, one of my targets is to get back to the national team and I am working hard to do well at club level so that I can go back to national level,” the midfielder added.

He has conceded that the Kenyan league is very tough and will offer him a great opportunity to improve, noting that each of the other 17 teams in the KPL are not feeble opponents.

He now hopes the team can keep up with a good start having won the first game but lost the second last weekend against Bandari.

“The first two games we very tough but we have to put that behind our backs. We have learnt from both of them and now we need to look at AFC and plan to get a good result. AFC is a tough team and it will not be easy,” Mico noted.

Sofapaka head coach Melis Medo expects a tough encounter against AFC Leopards on Sunday, one he has termed a war zone. The tactician looks at the week in training and what he expects from the match against Ingwe.

On the week in training;

“I am happy with the improvement the players have shown in training since our game against Bandari. We have been working very well and started on a high note. We expect a good game against AFC and you will be surprised that we will score a lot of goals in this match,”

“It’s a new team and they are improving every day. The talking, the communication, the passing, the quality of the movement of the ball, movement of the players without the ball, every week it’s improving and I am excited that we are doing well,”

On what he expects from AFC Leopards who are still winless this season;

“It will be a war zone. We are going for three points, they are also coming for three points. They are coming for blood. They have been disappointed with the latest results and it’s a big club. We have a lot of respect for them and we know it will be tough,”

On how hard it has been selecting the team for the last two games;

“This is a big problem for me because everyone is working hard and hungry to play. Sometimes, the subs come in and play better and next game you have to start them. But this is a good problem to have because everyone is working hard to keep their place,”

“But no one should be comfortable. Everyone has to fight for their spot when they get a chance. No one should give me an opportunity to second doubt their potential,”

He also gave an update on the team’s injuries ahead of the game. There is a clean bill of health, the only exception being striker Umaru Kasumba who is recovering from a hamstring sustained in pre-season.

Sofapaka defender Humphrey Okoti believes the team will bounce back stronger despite Sunday’s 2-1 shock defeat against Bandari in Machakos. The defender believes the team is on a learning curve and will come out good and will learn from the defeat and come back a better and improved team.

“The game was not bad I think we played well, but we only lost concentration for a few minutes in the second half and they capitalized and scored against us. We are a new team and we are just getting to know each other and gel as a team but I know in due time, everything will be okay,” Okoti noted.

He adds that everyone in the team is giving their best in training and on match days and notes the few mistakes that have come up over the last two matches will be addressed and the team will come out good.

“We have to improve a bit in terms of ball retention because if you look at both goals we conceded against Bandari, they all came up due to the fact that we lost the ball easily and couldn’t fight to get it back,” noted Okoti.

He added; “I believe we can also do a bit better in finishing and we will address that in training this week.”