Sofapaka FC head coach Melis Medo has continued to shape up his side ahead of the new season having been appointed last Saturday and the tactician has already roped in new players into the team. With Cliff Kasuti having earlier on arrived from military side Ulinzi Stars, the tactician has added eight other new players.

He will be re-joined by the trio of Tom Adwar, John Avire and Faina Jacobs who worked with him at his previous Nakumatt FC workstation.

Also joining the 2009 Kenyan Premier League champions is Rwandese forward Soter Kayumba, Titus Achesa from Posta Rangers, goalkeepers Robert Aimo (Chemelil) and Isaiah Wakasala (Ushuru FC) as well as unattached Ibrahim Kajuba.

“They are very talented players, hungry to represent the team, hungry to work and hungry to play for me. I am happy to have them and I am grateful to the management for letting me have the final word on the transfers. I look forward to working with them,” the American tactician said.

He added he will still delve further into the transfer market to rope in more players as he looks to build a competitive outfit.

The tactician has completed his first week of training and says he is pleased with the work put in by the players.

Sofapaka Coach John Baraza has said he is still learning and ready to improve his coaching skills under newly appointed head coach Melis Medo.
Medo was unveiled as ‘Batoto Ba Mungu’ head coach on Saturday, with the aim of returning the team back to it’s glorious days after they once again missed a silverware last season.
Baraza who was the team’s striker before hanging his boots three seasons ago and ventured into coaching, had been the team’s head coach in an acting capacity from May after the departure of Ugandan tactician Sam Ssimbwa and he managed to take the team to the Shield
final where they fumbled in the dying minutes of final to lose to Kariobangi Sharks. The team also finished fifth in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).
 “It is great to have a chance to work with a top coach like Melis. I have been learning and I believe I will learn a lot from the head coach. It is going to be exciting working with him,” Baraza said.

The FC Sofapaka duo of Piston Mutamba and Teddy Osok played starring roles on Wednesday evening for the national Under-23 team who beat Mauritius 5-0 in an Olympic Qualifier at Kasarani Stadium. Mutamba scored a goal and played for 70 minutes while Osok who clocked the entire 90 made an assist.

Osok laid in a beautiful cross for James Mazembe after half an hour off a swiftly executed corner, Ovella Ochieng feeding him off the ball on the right before the midfielder laid in a low cross that was neatly headed home.

Mutamba meanwhile scored Kenya’s third goal seven minutes into the second half when he rose in highest inside the box to nod home a cross from Ovella.

Osok played a crucial role for Francis Kimanzi’s team, anchoring the midfield winning the ball and spraying out passes beautifully.

Kenya’s other goals were scored by Johnstone Omurwa off a Yussuf Mainge corner, Sidney Lokale and skipper Joseph Okumu.

The return leg of the tie will be played away in Mauritius on Sunday.

Sofapaka coach Medo Melis yesterday said that the team was currently at 40 per cent and he promised to ensure their output in terms of physical condition, techniques and awareness on the pitch is at 100 per cent by the time the new season kicks-off on December 8.
Melis who signed a two year contract with the 2009 league champions on Saturday, was doing an assessment of the team after conduct three training sessions with the players.
“We need to do a lot of work to the team. Currently I can give the team a general rating of 40 per cent, meaning that there is a lot to be done for us to be 100 per cent ready by the time the league is kicking of on December 8,” Melis said.
He added: “The morale in the team is high and I’m happy with that fact because it will help us attain our goals. We are also blending well as the pre-season training progresses.”

Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa has told the new coach Melis Medo that he has to perform and maintain the high standards of Sofapaka.

The immediate former Nakumatt head coach was appointed to steer Batoto ba Mungu in the 2018/19 season after helping the shoppers retain their status in the top tier.

Kalekwa says there are priorities and the coach is already aware of that. “We are a big club, meaning we should be competing for the title; Medo is an experienced coach who can help us achieve that.

“We want to go for the league, it is our main target. Once we get that, we will be okay. The Shield is also our priority because we believe we have what it takes to compete in all fronts.

“Next season will be bigger and better for us, and we want to prove that on the pitch.” Am looking at new legs, 3 points weekly and the title will be achievable for us

John Baraza will serve as Medo’s assistant.

Newly-hired Sofapaka coach Melis Medo has made a clarion call for players to give their all if the team is to regain its glory.He told the players that there is no shortcut to success other than burning the midnight oil to achieve the same.“I want players who can endure the rigors of 120 minutes on the pitch rather than the regulation 90 minutes. All I want is maximum concentration from each of them and the rest shall fall in place. Remember, dedication and discipline are also key to success and these are the virtues I want upheld,” said Medo.The American tactician, whom Sofapaka sourced from Nakumatt FC, made the call soon after he was confirmed Batoto Ba Mungu Head Coach at a ceremony held at the team’s training ground at Eastleigh High School yesterday.Medo signed a two-year contract with Sofapaka and will be deputized by John Baraza who has been serving as Head Coach on an interim capacity.He stressed the need of concerted efforts to return Sofapaka where it belongs and especially ensuring that it wins the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title which has eluded them since 2008.“You see, Sofapaka is a club with a rich history and ought not to be struggling to win a domestic league silverware. I will set certain benchmarks but first, the players and the team’s handlers have to work extremely hard for the club to achieve its dream,” he said.Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa who presided over the contract signing said Medo was the man well placed to handle the team from an array of tacticians who had applied for the job.“Medo’s curriculum vitae spoke volumes and this is exactly why we contracted him. We welcome him at the club which is like a family and are hopeful he will do a wonderful job,” said Kalekwa.Club skipper Stephen Waruru said they are glad to have a coach with big credentials and assured him that the playing unit will co-operate with him in his quest to turn round their fortunes  “We had a fine performance last season and with the arrival of Medo, I believe it will even be better. Let the coach rest assured that we will not let him down,” said Waruru.In the meantime, Medo said he does not rule out beefing the squad with players to make it stronger.“As a coach you always know what is god for the team and you should expect one or two changes moving forward,” he said.  Medo initially served Nakumatt as a physical trainer before being elevated to Head Coach and quickly helped the turn evade relegation from the SPL

Celebrated defender James Situma hailed the impact Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa has had in his career.

Situma affirmed that the support of Kalekwa and the guidance of fiery coach Robert Matano, played a pivotal role in his game as he went on earn several caps with the national football team Harambee Stars.

The Mathare United centre-back has had a decorated stint on the football pitch turning out for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs Sofapaka FC, AFC Leopards, Tusker FC and Kakamega Homeboyz.

He was part of the Sofapaka squad that won the 2009 KPL title in unprecedented fashion, lifting the crown in their top flight debut.

“In Sofapaka we were focused and motivated as the playing unit. That encouraged us and gave us the stamina to compete and conquer in 2009 being our first year in the league.

“Our president Elly Kalekwa was so supportive and very close to us,” Situma said

Besides the league crown, Situma also bagged three domestic Cup titles and also went on to win the league and Cup double with Tusker in 2016 under the tutelage of Ugandan tactician Paul Nkata.

He also praised his former boss Robert Matano, now back at Tusker, for his coaching style of no nonsense caliber and a coach who demanded maximum commitment and discipline from his players.

Situma who played for Kakamega Homeboyz for only six months, says it is the dream of every player to seek new challenges, a reason he said explained why he has turned out for several clubs in the country

Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa has refuted claims by the team captain Mathew Kigonya that the club has denied him a release letter, two weeks after expressing his desire to part ways with the 2009 league champions.
Kigonya, who scored four goals for the team in the just concluded season, from the penalty spot despite being a goalkeeper, stunned the Sofapaka faithfuls a fortnight ago with a letter requesting to leave the team.
He has since been linked with moves to league rivals AFC Leopards and Tusker. Tusker, however, looks like the more serious contender for the Ugandan international after they lost the services of Harambee Stars custodian Patrick Matasi to Ethiopia league championship St George’s.
“Kigonya is not a free agent. We cannot just give him a release letter because he wishes to leave the team and yet he has nine more months in his contract with Sofapaka,” said Kalekwa.
He added: “Football is business and since Kigonya’s contract runs to June 2019, he is still our player. We are ready to release him, but any team that is looking for his signature should talk to the club’s administration to strike a deal.”

Kariobangi Sharks edgeS out Sofapaka 3-2 in a dramatic Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield final at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday evening, for their first ever major accolade.

The match made for a dramatic end with two goals and a missed penalty all in the span of eight minutes. Sharks were trailing 2-1 having lost a one goal lead before Sidney Lokale equalized in the 82^nd minute and George Abege scoring the third three minutes later.

But, immediately after Sharks had gone 3-2 up, Sofapaka were given a penalty after Kevin Kimani was brought down in the box by Eric Juma, but the midfielder skied his effort with Shrks breathing huge sighs of relief to hold on to the lead and claim the title.

They had gone 1-0 up through Abege before Stephen Waruru equalized and Kevin Kimani’s early second half goal giving Batoto ba Mungu the lead.

Both chasing a piece of the history cake, the match was all set to be a cracker, Sharks looking for their first ever major title while Sofapaka’s head coach John Baraza was looking to be among the few men to win the title both as player and coach with the same team.

It was Sharks though who started the match with more urgency upfront and as early as the fourth minute, they were already causing ripples in the Sofapaka backline.

Lack of communication at the back saw keeper Wycliffe Kasaya go off his line to try cut out a dipped ball, but Harrison Mwendwa beat him to it though his final shot came off the side netting with the goalmouth staring at him.

Two minutes on the other end, Waruru had an effort with a header from the near post off a Kevin Kimani corner, but he couldn’t direct it on target, the ball going wide.

In the 20^th minute, Sharks were almost punished for some dangerous play when Pascal Ogweno lost the ball cheaply under pressure from Umaru Kassumba, but the Ugandan’s attempt to cut back a cross was futile, the ball being cleared away.

Sharks all this time had more of the possession with their ball-playing men doing well to keep the ball and try open up the Sofapaka backline marshaled by Willis Ouma and Burundian international Moussa Omar.

In the 25^th minute, Duke Abuya sent in an inviting dipped cross to Henry Juma on the right, but the winger’s attempt on the volley was wild, skying over the bar.

But the goal they had yearned for came through in the 29^th minute when Abege beat the offside trap to a Patillah Omotto pass before shooting low past Wycliffe Kasaya.

It was a goal they had worked hard for and one that injected some bit of confidence especially on the ball. They kept pressing but this time, Sofapaka too had some urgency to score.

They were lucky to escape in the 40^th minute when Mwendwa did well on the right to find some space and slash in a low cross, but Juma at the edge of the box skied over.

For that missed chance, they paid heavily a minute to the break when Waruru, not the tallest of players inside the box brushed in a header at the near post when he rushed to meet a well curved freekick from Kimani.

In the second half Sofapaka started by making attacking changes, Ezekiel Okare coming on for Kepha Aswani. They were clearly coming into the final half on the front foot and they were awarded on the hour mark when Kimani headed them ahead.

Kasumba did well with some exquisite piece of skill on the right to get away from his markers and lay in a cross which was met by the pint-sized midfielder at the backpost, heading it in from a tight angle.

Three minutes later, Kasumba had a chance to get a goal for himself when he was flicked on by Okare, but his volley on the first time of asking went over.

Sharks made changes with Sidney Lokale coming on for Juma while Shaphan Oyugi was rested for Vincent Wasambo. Baraza made another change bringing on Teddy Osok for Elli Asieche in midfield as he sought to have more solidity.

In the 70^th minute, substitute Lokale had a brilliant opportunity to take Sharks back into the game off a swiftly executed counter but his eventual shot from inside the box went wide.

Sofapaka team that will face Kariobangi Sharks FC at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday 20th October 2018 for the Sportpesa Shield Cup Finals. Starting eleven include:

Wycliffe Kasaya (40)
Dennis Odhiambo (02)
Willlis Obayi (03)
George Maelo (08)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Yusuf Mohammed (07)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Elli Asieche (16)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Stephen Waruru (22)

SUBSTITUTES

Juma Reuben (29)
Samuel Mutiria (19)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
Ezekiel Okare (18)
Piston Mutamba (09)
Teddy Osok (06)
Mohammed Kilume (04)