Sofapaka coach John Baraza is set to unleash newly signed striker Pistone Mutamba against Thika United when the two sides clash in a crucial Kenyan Premier League match at the Thika Stadium on Sunday.
According to Baraza, Mutamba who joined the 2009 league champions from Wazito this month, has been sharp in training and will certainly play some role in this weekend’s league match. “Mutamba has been training well and showed glimpse of sharpness in front of goal. We will definitely use him against Thika United on Sunday,” said Baraza. Baraza said the team was psyched up for the match after losing a mid-week match to AFC Leopards and they had worked on the mistakes witnessed in midweek.
“Against AFC Leopards we wasted a lot of chances. In fact we could have been 2-0 up after the first eight minutes and we later paid for the wastefulness by losing. We now need to bounce back against Thika and go back on track for the title chase,” Baraza said.
Sofapaka will miss the services of midfielder Bernard Mang’oli who suffered a gash on his lower eye socket during training on Friday. The team has, however, been boosted by the return of striker Kepha Aswani  who missed Leopards match because of a knee injury. Sofapaka are currently third in the table standings on 31points from 19 matches, while their opponents Thika United are placed 16^th with 19
points from 19 matches.

Sofapaka coach John Baraza has blamed his team’s rustiness during the match as the main reason behind the defeat against AFC Leopards.

A Brian Marita goal in the 83rd minute was all the twelve-time league champions AFC Leopards needed to down Batoto ba Mungu and surge upwards in the league table. Speaking after the match, the former striker has pointed out poor finishing as the main reason why his side fell.

“Definitely I am very disappointed with the result, we were the better side, chances were created but my players did not utilize none. AFC Leopards created several theirs and ended up using one, and eventually won the match.

“We will have to go back and work on our finishing and ensure we implement the same in the future,” Baraza told Sofapaka Portal.

Sofapaka are currently third on the league table with thirty one points.

Brian Marita 84^th minute goal helped AFC leopards pick a second win in 10 matches with a 1-0 win over Sofapaka in Machakos.

At the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Sofapaka came into the tie with the hunger of picking three points to narrow the gap between them and leaders Gor, but they left dejected after missing several key chances to score.

Stephen Waruru had the first chance in the 10th minute when a cross from Umaru Kasumba found him isolated in the box but his volley went straight to keeper Ezekiel Owade. In the 23rd minute, Waruru was the creator making a good run on the flank before cutting back a cross that was however cleared by Salim Abdallah right infront of Ezekiel Okare who was waiting to pounce.

The game was an evenly contested affair, each of the two sides fighting to break the deadlock. Mohammed Kilume should have done better with a 40th minute opportunity with a shot from range but it went wide.

On the other side some beautiful combination play from AFC saw Jaffery Owiti laid up by Marvin Nabwire at the edge of the box but his shot went over after being closed down by the Sofapaka backline.

In the second half Sofapaka sought to start strongly and Elli Asieche came cross with a shot from inside the six yard box off a corner, but the effort on the volley was blocked by the AFC defense. On the hour mark, Umaru Kassumba had a brilliant chance to break the deadlock after being picked out by Asieche but he could not direct his volley on target.

Aziz Okaka who had just come on for Senaji almost made an immediate impact when a Marita cross from the right found him at the far post, but his header was beautifully saved by keeper Mathias Kigonya.

Sofapaka kept pounding the AFC box but could not execute their chances and they were punished six minutes from time when from a counter attack Marita spotted keeper Kigonya off his line and looped the ball over him.

Sofapaka team that will face AFC leopards at the Machakos Stadium on 13th June 2018. Starting eleven include:

STARTING ELEVEN

• Kasaya Wycliff
• Maelo George
• Yusuf Mohammed
• Magonya Brian
• Osok Teddy
• Kilume Mohamed
• Asieche Elli
• Waruru Stephen
• Okare Ezekiel
• Umaru Kasumba
• Kimani Kevin

SUBSTITUTES

• Kasaya Wycliff
• Kwanya Edmond
• Ouma Willis
• Osok Teddy
• Okare Ezekiel
• Luda Timothy
• Oduor Micheal

Sofapaka will tomorrow face 13-times Kenyan Premier League champions AFC Leopards in Machakos on Wednesday afternoon in a match that captain Mathew Kigonya terms as a possible title decider as they chase league leaders Gor Mahia.
Sofapaka has a better head-to-head record against Leopards, winning five and drawing once in their previous eight meetings, but Kigonya feels that they will not be looking at the impressive record against their opponents, noting that having been champions 13 times, Ingwe was not a team to be under rated.
“It’s true we have a better head-to-head record against AFC Leopards, but we cannot afford to under rate them. They have quality players and we can’t ignore the fact that they have been league champions 13 times,” said Kigonya.
He added: “Every team in the league is now dangerous and for us to maintain our title quest, we have to remain focused and ensure that we win all our remaining fixtures and lift the trophy at the end of the season.”
Coach John Baraza will be spoilt for choice upfront after the arrival of striker Pistone Mutamba who will be available for selection after returning from national duty with Harambee Stars and Ezekiel Okare who has recovered from injury. Baraza has been relying on the services of Kepha Aswani, Stephen Waruru and Umaru Kasumba who missed their last league match, a 1-0 win over Chemelil Sugar at Narok

Sofapaka captain and first choice goal keeper Mathew Kigonya has welcomed the arrival of Kenya international custodian Wycliffe Kasaya to the team and termed it as a boost to the side that is seeking to win a double this season.
Though Kasaya poses a threat to Kigonya’s first team assurance, the Ugandan shot stopper is happy for the new challenge is claims it is good for the team as they seek to win their second Kenyan Premier League title.
“Kasaya is a big catch for the team. He has massive experience and he is a top class goalie, it’s good to have depth in every team, the young goalkeepers in the team, Juma and Opiyo can also learn a lot from him,” Kigonya said.
Kasaya joined Sofapaka from Mathare United on June 1 when the transfer window was opened together with striker Pistone Mutambu who is currently with the national team Harambee Stars for a series of international friendly build-up matches in India.

Sofapaka team that will face Chemelil fc at the Narok Stadium on 6th June 2018. Starting eleven include:

STARTING ELEVEN

• Kasaya Wycliff
• Obayi Willis
• Yusuf Mohammed
• Aloro Rodgers
• Osok Teddy
• Moussa Omar
• Asieche Elli
• Waruru Stephen
• Okare Ezekiel
• Aswani Kepha
• Kimani Kevin

SUBSTITUTES

• Juma Reuben
• Kwanya Edmond
• Magonya Brian
• Okoti Humphrey
• Kitawi Ibrahim
• Maelo George
• Oduor Micheal

International goalkeeper Wycleff Kasaya is expected to stand between the posts for Kenyan Premier League giants Sofapaka, just three days after his arrival, as they host Chemelil Sugar in a midweek clash at Narok Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Kasaya and striker Pistone Mutambu were the first ones to be penned by the 2009 champions when the transfer window opened on June 1, but Mutambu is currently away on International duty with Harambee Stars in India.

Kasaya has been guaranteed a starting place in the absence of first choice custodian Mathew Kigonya who travel to his native country Uganda to attend to personal commitments.

Sofapaka coach John Baraza will also be without the services of striker Umaru Kasumba who was the team’s top scorer last season, as he requested for some time off as well to.attend to some personal issues in Uganda.
In the absence of Kasumba, Baraza is likely to start with Ezekiel Okare in partnership with Kepha Aswani and Stephen Waruru.

The last time the two sides met, they played to a 1-1 draw at Chemelil Complex, but Baraza believes that the soggy pitch after a heavy down pour, denied them a clear victory as they could not play their passing football.
A win for Sofapaka today would see the leap to second spot on the log and close the gap on leaders Gor Mahia

Sofapaka team that will face Re-Union fc at the on 3^rd June 2018. Starting eleven include:

STARTING ELEVEN

• WYCLIFF KASAYA
• GEORGE MAELO
• SAMUEL MUTIRIA
• OMAR MOUSSA
• HUMPHREY OKOTI
• BRIAN MAGONYA
• TEDDY OSOK
• STEPHEN WARURU
• KEVIN KIMANI
• MIKE ODUOR
• EZEKIEL OKARE

SUBSTITUTES

• REUBEN JUMA
• WILLIS OBAYI
• RODGERS ALORO
• KEPHA ASWANI
• EDMOND KWANYA
• ELLY ASIECHE
• IBRAHIM KITAWI

Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza has said his side cannot afford to under rate former league side Re-Union, when the two sides clash in a Shield tie on Sunday at Camp Toyoyo.
Though Re-Union’s fortunes dwindled, to see the team drop from the top tier to now play in the Provincial Leagues, Baraza has vowed not to underrate them and said he would treat every match as a final as he seeks a season-double with the team.
“You can never afford to under-ate any team in football. Re- Union could be playing in the lower leagues, but they have quality players. Some of these players playing in the Nairobi leagues are very talented and can easily cause an upset, so I will field my best side of the moment to guarantee a winning start,” Baraza said.
He added: “Everyone wants to win the Shield in order to play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, so every match is like a final for us.”
The match kicks-off at 3pm on Sunday