Sofapaka coach John Baraza has today released utility defender Vitalis Akumu and announced plans to sign four more players to bolster his squad for the final push of the Kenyan Premier League title, when the transfer window opens in mid season.

Baraza who was confirmed yesterday as the coach after acting since March when he took over from Ugandan tactician Sam Ssimbwa, said Akumu who joined the 2009 champions in January from relegated side Western Stima, had requested to leave the club so that he could get playing time and increase his chances of being considered for a national team call up in future.

Akumu who has never started any match for Sofapaka since joining the team, has been below Moussa Omar, Rodgers Aloro, Willis Ouma, Yusuf Mohammed, Humphrey Okoti and Kevin Oduor in the pecking order, hence limited chances of a starting place. “Akumu requested if he could leave the team to join Vihiga United where he can get more playing time and we granted him his wish. So that means I will be going for a defender to replace him when the transfer window opens,” said Baraza.

He added: “I will also be looking for play makers and a striker. In total I plan to sign four players to enable us have depth.” Sofapaka who finished second last season are currently placed third on the log on 28 points, the same as second placed Ulinzi Stars, but has an inferior goal difference.

Sofapaka’s coach John Baraza has lauded his players for the team’ recent form that has seen them leap to third spot in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) table, only behind second placed Ulinzi Stars by virtue of having an inferior goal difference.Baraza who has managed to turn around the team’s fortune since taking over the mantle from Ugandan tactician Sam Ssimbwa in March after a spate of poor results, has been playing with three out and out strikers in Ugandan international Umaru Kasumba who was the team’s top scorer last season and international duo Stephen Waruru and Kepha Aswani and he is happy the combination is yielding results.“I have been using 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formations depending on the opponent we are facing, but even when I’m using the 4-4-2 formation, I use one of the strikers in different roles and that has been the trick,” said Baraza.
He added: “I’m happy with the way the players have gelled and the way they are putting a lot of effort in every match. At least the players now know there expectations and they are doing what they are needed to do.”
Since taking over the team, Baraza has only lost one match, which was against Wazito, where they lost a penalty and rattled the cross bar twice. He has, however, lead the team to victories against Ulinzi, Vihiga United and Zoo Kericho and drew against Sony Sugar, Chemelil Sugar and champions Gor Mahia.

Sofapaka boss Elly Kalekwa today rewarded John Baraza for the team’s recent winning run by confirming him as the head coach, two months after he took the reigns from Ugandan tactician Sam Ssimbwa.
Kalekwa refuted claims appearing on a section of the media that tactician Mike Muiruri was on his way to the 2009 champions’ technical bench after he left Kakamega Homeboyz on Monday. “I just read on social media that Muiruri is linked to a move to Sofapaka. I don’t know Muiruri and have never even talked to him, those are just the normal rumours to stir conversations in football platforms,” Kalekwa said.
He said he had settled on Baraza after the former lethal striker turned tactician had turned around the team to see them leap to third position in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings.“Baraza has been my player, I took him for coaching classes and the team is now doing very well under him. Why should I change a winning side? I have more than 100 resumes from foreign coaches looking for a chance to coach Sofapaka, but Baraza is my man,” Kalekwa said.
Since he took over the job in March, Baraza has won three matches, drawn three and lost one. He has steered the side to wins over Ulinzi Stars, Vihiga United and Zoo Kericho, drew against champions Gor Mahia, Sony Sugar and Chemelil Sugar and lost to Wazito.

First half goals from strikers Umaru Kasumba and Kepha Aswani were enough to steer Sofapaka to a crucial 2-1 win over the 2010 champions Ulinzi Stars in a thrilling Kenyan Premier League match at Afraha Stadium this afternoon.
The win places Batoto Ba Mungu, 3^rd on the KPL log, closed the gap on league leaders Gor Mahia and have them within striking range.
Coach John Baraza only made a single change on the team that drew 3-3 against Gor Mahia last weekend, bringing in Teddy Osok in place of Mohammed Kilume.
Ugandan striker Kasumba who had missed action for close to a month due to sickness, showed glimpses of his sharp form that saw him become the team’s top scorer last season as he was a constant threat to the soldiers the entire time.
The visitors could have taken the lead five minutes into the match, but Kasumba’s strike was blocked by a sea of Ulinzi defenders on the goal line.
He finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a solo effort.
Aswani added the tally two minutes later after capitalising on Kasumba’s move

Sofapaka beat Ulinzi Stars 2-1 at Afraha Stadium on May 27th, 2018 jumping two slots at the Kenya Premier League table. Both now have twenty-eight points but Ulinzi enjoys a superior goal difference.

Omar Mbongi’s timid header was no big challenge for Mathias Kigonya in what was the only open chance for the home side in the first opening minutes. The encounter started on slow each side cautious not to concede an early goal. Jacktone Odhiambo picked easily a free kick into the area by Rodgers Aloro. 

Umaru Kasumba’s sheer power on the ball just ensured his team had the first score in the 32nd minute. The 2017 season top scorer for Sofapaka brought the ball into the box by himself before unleashing a screamer past Odhiambo in goal.

Aswani doubled the lead for Sofapaka within two minutes from the first goal when he lifted the ball over Hassan Mohamed and fired past the goalkeeper. It is all credit to Kasumba who kept hold of the ball before dancing past three Ulinzi defenders to set Aswani free to score.

Ulinzi got their consoling goal in the 43rd minute when Sofapaka backline failed to deal with a throw-in into their area. Elvis Nandwa slotted in but Willis Ouma would have stopped the ball.

Aswani casually lost another chance that Kevin Kimani created for him in the 63rd minute. With only Odhiambo in goal, the former Nakumatt and AFC Leopards striker just sent the ball over the bar thus failing to stretch the lead out of possible reach for Ulinzi.

Sofapaka team that will face Ulinzi Stars fc at the Afraha Stadium on 27^th May 2018. Starting eleven include:

• Kigonya Mathias (01)
• Ouma Willis (03)
• Yusuf Mohammed (07)
• Aloro Rodgers (17)
• Teddy Osok (06)
• Moussa Omar (15)
• Elly Asieche (16)
• Waruru Stephen (22)
• Kimani Kevin (33)
• Umaru Kasumba (13)
• Aswani Kepha (50)

SUBSTITUTES

• Opiyo Emmanuel (30)
• Kwanya Edmond (21)
• Kilume Mohamed (04)
• Okoti Humphrey (23)
• Oduor Micheal (11)
• Odipo Maurice (24)
• Luda Timothy (12)

An Innocent Wafula last minute strike helped Gor Mahia to deny Sofapaka maximum points in a six goal thriller played on Sunday.

At the close of first half, Gor Mahia had two goals, while Sofapaka had none. But on the second half tables turned against the KPL champions after Kepha Aswani and Ezekiel Okare scored 1 and 2 goals respectively.

K’Ogalo looked on course to suffer their first league defeat this season against Batoto ba Mungu but defensive lapses enabled the champions to come back after Wafula scored to make it 3-3.

However, Sofapaka head coach John Baraza feels Gor Mahia did not deserve to get anything from the match. “First, I would like to thank my players for the commitment they put against Gor, it was not going to be an easy game.

“They (Gor Mahia), did not deserve to get anything from the game, they were fortunate to go home with that point. The way we played was unexpected.

“We are still in the title race and we are going to continue giving our best,” Baraza told Sofapaka portal.

Despite the outcome, the sixteen-time league champions are still leading the table with thirty-one points and three matches behind.

Reigning KPL champions Gor Mahia got a scare in what would have been their first defeat of the season by the number two champions KPL 2017. A last minute equalizer gave them a 3-3 draw with Sofapaka in Machakos on Sunday.

Meddie Kagere and Bernard Ondiek scored in the first half, but Sofapaka came back spirited in the second half with Kepha Aswani pulling one back while substitute Ezekiel Okare scored two in the final five minutes of the game.

It so happened that Batoto ba Mungu were staring at victory infront of their own eyes, but in the last minute, a poor defense saw Wafula slam the ball home from close range.

Gor started the tie faster off the blocks. In the first minute, Ephraim scored from a Wafula cross but the goal was cancelled for offside.

Sofapaka had a brilliant opportunity to get back into the game when Umaru Kasumba broke off to face Boniface Oluoch one on one after picking up the ball from a defensive mistake. However, the Ugandan curled the ball wide from the edge of the box.

Oluoch made a brilliant save on the quarter hour mark one on one from Kevin Kimani after the winger was picked out with a cross from Elli Asieche.

Having survived the scare, Gor sought more goals and they had just that in the 24th minute when Yusuf Mohammed’s headed clearance fell graciously on Ondiek who nodded the ball beyond Mathias Kigonya.

Then Sofapaka coach John Baraza replaced Okoti with Waruru who brought more attacking impetus.

Waruru almost turned provider in the 33rd minute when his cross found Kimani at the edge of the box but the latter’s shot was over.

On the second half, Sofapaka came back with intent and pushed from the first whistle. They were rewarded just six minutes later when Aswani struck from his left foot beyond Oluoch after being picked out by a Kimani through pass.

Sofapaka continued their upward trajectory and they came inches close on the hour mark when Waruru tried to chip the ball over Oluoch who was advanced off his line from a counter attack but the ball went over.

On the other end, Gor had a chance to stretch their lead but keeper Kigonya made two brilliant saves. First, he denied Kagere one on one after the striker had raced to a through pass while his second was a reflex, leaping to his left to parry away a diving header from Guikan off a Wesley Onguso cross.

But Sofapaka kept on fighting and were rewarded five minutes to full time when Okare scored the first of his two, heading the ball beyond Oluoch who was off his line. Four minutes later, he scored what looked like a winner when he slammed the ball past Oluoch after Kimani won the ball against Shakava to feed him.

But, the joy was shortlived with Wafula scoring on the other end after a goal mouth melee that resulted from a corner.

Gor Mahia are now looking to maintain their unbeaten record of 13 Kenyan Premier League matches, a feat that will be put under test when they face arch-rivals AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji derby next weekend at Bukhungu Stadium

Sofapaka coach John Baraza says he has forwarded a request to the team’s management to bring on board free-agent Musa Mohammed ahead of the second leg with the mid-season transfer window opening in under two weeks.

The former Gor Mahia captain has been in the country since leaving Albanian second tier side KF Tirana and Baraza says if they can land his signature then they will be a tough team to beat.

“He is a very good player and I would be very happy if we can land him. I have told the management and hopefully they can initiate the talks. We intend to be very competitive and fight for the league crown so we need to be strong as a team,” Baraza noted.

Mohammed has been a subject of interest from several clubs in and around the country since leaving Albania.

Meanwhile, Baraza will be looking to get a win over Gor when he faces the reigning champions on Sunday in Machakos, eying a third consecutive win.

“It is a very important match for us because I think if you have to be champion, these are the kinds of games you need to win. Gor are in good form now especially with the confidence they have gathered playing continental football, but we want to show them we are equally good,” Baraza noted.

Sofapaka sit fourth in the standings with 24 points, six behind Gor Mahia who have a three-match deficit.

Sofapaka head coach John Baraza says the change that happened just before halftime helped his side down Zoo on Saturday 12th May in Narok.

Batoto Ba Mungu came from a goal down to beat Zoo 2-1 and in the process registered a second consecutive win after their recent losing spell.

In his post-match interview, Baraza admitted that he had to change formation in order to down the stubborn Zoo. He withdrew Ibrahim Kitawi before the break and replaced him with Kevin Kimani, a switch he believes won his side the game.

“The game was a little bit tough, Zoo came into the game with an aim of winning and they really fought hard. Luckily we fought back and we got an important win, that’s what matters. I think change in formation helped us win this game, we started with two strikers (Waruru and Kasumba) then we added a third (Kimani) and it made us sharper upfront and we got the goals,” he said.