Sofapaka defender George Maelo will be missing in action when the 2009 champions face Homeboyz in a crucial Kenyan Premier League match next Wednesday at Narok Stadium.
Maelo was sent off during their league match against Posta Rangers, where Sofapaka emerged 1-0 winners.
Maelo, apparently turned from hero to villain after he scored the decisive goal before being sent off, but eventually the maximum points were home.
Goalkeeper Wycliffe Kasaya will be available for selection as he returns from suspension after being shown red against league champions Gor Mahia. 

Sofapaka players Piston Mutamba and Dennis Odhiambo today helped Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars beat The Black Stars of Ghana 1-0 in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Kasarani Stadium.
Though striker Mutamba played no part in the match, utility player Odhiambo played the entire 90 minutes where he was the outstanding player at the centre of midfield, totally outshining Athletic Madrid midfielder Thomas Pattey.
Stars scored in the 39th minute through an own goal by Nicholas Opokwa and we’re unlucky to add a second in the second minute. Defender Joash Onyango was, however, sent off at the 69th minute after bringing down goal bound Christian Stay

Sofapaka coach John Baraza believes that the team can go all the way and win the Shield competition after knocking out rivals Tusker to reach the last four in the competition.
The former striker that turned coach is happy to have beaten his former coach and mentor Robert Matano who was in charge of the brewers when Sofapaka beat them 2-1 in a thrilling encounter in Machakos on Sunday.
“We have a realistic chance of going all the way to win the competition and represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next season,” said Baraza.
He is, however, not expecting an easy path to the title, despite the absence of giants Tusker and Gor Mahia who were knocked out on the same day.
Gor were stunned 4-2 on postmatch penalties by Kariobangi Sharks to end their dream of a treble. Other two teams remaining in the competition are Ulinzi and defending champions AFC Leopards.
“ Gor and Tusker could be out of the competition but that doesn’t mean that the remaining teams are going to be a walk in the park. All the teams are tough and that is why they have reached this level, so we just have to prepare well and avoid any laxities,” Baraza said.
A Shield win for Sofapaka would act as a consolation for Sofapaka after missing on the league title which has already been won by Gor Mahia.

Sofapaka rallied from behind to beat Tusker 2-1 earning a slot into the semi’s of the Shield Cup during the match staged at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Sunday 2^nd September.

Jackson Macharia handed Tusker an early lead after a give and take pass between Macharia and Muchiri in the 5th minute.

Before Tusker could settle down, Sofapaka restored equalized two minutes later from a set piece by Kevin Kimani to Umaru Kasumba to headed the ball into the open net. Matasi failed to punch the ball when he rushed off his line. The game was definitely onto an electric start and the fast paced action that threatened a flurry of goals, the kind which was witnessed when the two teams met in the first in an encounter that ended 5-4 in favor of Sofapaka fizzled out. Chances were far and wide between the two teams as they went into the second half locked at 1-1.

John Baraza took a chance at half time by substituting Teddy Osok who had a torrid first half with Brian Magonya. And then Pistone Mutamba giving way for Ezekiel Okare.

Tusker Coach Matano also rang his first change in the 65th minute introducing John Kamau for Boniface Muchiri. 

Baraza’s move paid dividends in the 70^th minute when Michael Oduor floated in a brilliant cross to substitute Okare who headed in the second and final goal of the game. Sofapaka held on for the win as the move to semi finals of the Shield

Sofapaka team that will face Tusker fc at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Sunday 2nd September 2018 for the FKF Shield Cup 2018. Starting eleven include:

Mathias Kigonya (01)
Maelo George (08)
Yusuf Mohamed (07)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Stephen Waruru (33)
Pistone Mutamba (09)
Umaru Kasumba (13)

SUBSTITUTES

• Reuben Juma (29)
• Humphrey Okoti (23)
• Elli Asieche (16)
• Ezekiel Okare (18)
• Edmond Kwanya (21)
• Samuel Mutiria (19) 
• Brian Magonya (26)

Sofapaka team that will face Posta Rangers fc at Camp Toyoyo, Nairobi on Wednesday 29th August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Mathias Kigonya (01)
Maelo George (08)
Rodgers Aloro (17)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Elli Asieche (16)
Mico Justin (10)
Umaru Kasumba (13)
Brian Magonya (26)

SUBSTITUTES

Reuben Juma (29)
Humphrey Okoti (23)
Sammy Imbuye (24)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Pistone Mutamba (09)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Samuel Mutiria (19) 

Sofapaka technical bench is on tenterhooks ahead of the team’s midweek Kenyan Premier League match against Posta Rangers at Camp Toyoyo ground in Jericho on Wednesday afternoon. Batoto Ba Mungu have gone five matches without a win and Head Coach John Baraza clearly feels the heat. Another loss against the mailmen on Wednesday may test the patience of the team fans.
During the their first of their five-match awry streak, Sofapaka, lost 1-0 to Vihiga United, drew 2-2 with Nzoia Sugar in Bungoma, crashed 0-3 to Gor Mahia before meeting their waterloo last weekend in a 1-0 defeat by Kariobangi Sharks.
Before meeting Nzoia, Baraza was categorical that the team would not have succumbed to Gor were it not for the professional foul committed by goalkeeper Wycliff Kasaya coupled with Kepha Aswani squandering a penalty early in the first half.
“As a coach you are bound to be disappointed by such state of affairs. We held sway and actually forced five corner kicks in the early exchanges and I must say we were our worst enemies following what transpired later. This is football and such occurrences ought to be avoided at all costs,” said Baraza.
Sofapaka are placed fourth in the chart behind AFC Leopards, Bandari and Gor, who have already been coronated champions and another loss will further dent their chances of winding up in the second position.

Sofapaka team that will face Kariobangi Sharks fc at the Narok Stadium on Saturday 25th August 2018 for the round two games. Starting eleven include:

Reuben Juma (29)
Maelo George (08)
Rodgers Aloro (17)
Obayi Willis (03)
Moussa Omar (15)
Kevin Kimani (33)
Okare Ezekiel (18)
Teddy Osok (06)
Mico Justin (10)
Stephen Waruru (22)
Pistone Mutamba (09)

SUBSTITUTES

Kigonya Mathias (01)
Edmond Kwanya (21)
Mohamed Yusuf (07)
Micheal Oduor (11)
Kepha Aswani (50)
Brian Magonya(26)
Samuel Mutiria (19) 

Kariobangi Sharks are walking on eggshells in the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) and it will be dire if the team which has lost five consecutive matches falters at the hands of Sofapaka at Narok Stadium on Saturday.
Sharks coach William Muluya is a besieged man with the team’s fans calling on his replacement following a string of poor results, the latest of which was a 2-0 beating at the hands of Sony Sugar at Camp Toyoyo ground in Jericho last weekend.
Another loss for Sharks will be almost calamitous and whether Muluya and his charges went back to the drawing board to turn round the team’s floundering fortunes remain to be seen.
In the meantime, Sofapaka are equally angling for improved results after losing 3-0 to Gor Mahia last Wednesday in a performance that left Batoto Ba Mungu faithful overly disappointed.
Sofapaka coach John Baraza has apologized to the team’s fans over the pedestrian performance which he attributed to school-boy errors and a moment of ‘madness’ from the team’s goalkeeper Wycliff Kasaya who was sent off after committing a professional foul.
Against Sharks, Baraza, whose team has gone four matches without tasting a win, said he expects a high noon and especially given that they will be up against a team that badly need a win after a five-match win-less streak.
“Playing such a team (Sharks) is tricky but all I can say is that we also want a win and whoever will take their chances shall carry the day. We spurned chances against Gor and I’ve instructed my players to be a little bit keen in their delivery upfront,” said Baraza.
While Sofapaka have proven goal scorers like Stephen Waruru, Kepha Aswani and Pistone Mutamba, Sharks also boast of their own like Eric Kapaito, Duke Abuya and James Mazembe who will need tight police marking

Sofapaka coach John Baraza has rued the ill temperament and lack of composure by his charges which contributed to their 3-0 defeat by GorMahia in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) match at Narok Stadium on Wednesday evening.

“It was a moment of madness that we all would wish to forget in a hurry. The failure by Kasaya (Wycliff) to play with etiquette coupled with Aswani’s (Kepha) missed penalty early in the game came to haunt us. As a coach,I’m overly disappointed and would not want these state of affairs to recur,”said a visibly disappointed Baraza.

The tactician added:” Kasaya is an excellent and experienced goalkeeper and ought to have known better the repercussions of upending a goal-bound player inside the box. The blunder he made ultimately cost us the match we should have won,”

This was one match which may cause sleepless nights to Kasaya for the next few days to come after fouling Gor’s Lawrence Juma which earned the former a straight red card besides Sofapaka conceding a penalty which Innocent Wafula coolly slotted for Gor’s second goal.

The blunder by Kasaya was reminiscent of the one committed by AFC Leopards glove-man Gabriel Andika on April 2 against Tusker in Kericho when he opted to bring down Timothy Otieno as he was sent off before the victims lotted from the spot in a match the brewers won 4-2.

Things turned more awry for Sofapaka against Gor as they played one more man less after they exhausted their substitutions following Mohamed Kilume’s injury.

As Sofapaka received the wrath of Gor, Baraza deviated fromhis nature by criticizing the players over what he described school-boy errors that gifted Gor an easy victory that proved vital in their league
title defence.

“We were in control in the early moments and even earned five corner kicks before our players started losing their cool. We even conceded an unnecessary penalty and also wasted ours.,” said Baraza.

However, Baraza urged Sofapaka fans in and outside the country not to read too much into the result, adding that he is optimistic they will bounce back in their quest to wind up in at least second position in
the standings.

“Once we get into shape and find our range, there will be nostopping us. We have all along been playing well and all we need is to keep working hard and we’ll our objectives,” said Baraza.

The tactician hinted at making signings in the next transfer window in January after consultation with the rest of the technical bench officials.