Sofapaka forward Umaru Kasumba is back in training and in contention for a place in the game against Tusker, this coming Saturday 11 November and he has assured the team of making up, as far as the race for the Golden Boot is concerned.

The striker missed the team’s last two matches, against Mathare United and Sony Sugar as he nursed a shoulder injury picked in training. While out, he fell behind in the top scorers’ race, currently trailing lead scorer Masoud Juma by four goals.

Glad to be back

He arrived back in Kenya and started training on Tuesday 7 November and as he works for his starting spot, he’s optimistic there will be no further setbacks in the final two matches of the season.

“Truth be told, like any other player, It was tough being out there; I want to be pitch always and so I am happy to be back. I have trained for two days now and I am feeling much better and ready to score more goals. I will continue working hard for the top scorer’s award because I believe I can still win it.

“If I don’t, I will at least finish among the top three but I want to be the best and I will work for that in the remaining two matches,” he added.

Team Comes first

The striker, has so far scored 11 goals, joined the team in midseason. He should have added one but opted against taking a penalty against Bandari FC in the team’s 2 – 1 win over the Dockers but he says he has no regrets at the decision.

“We are a team and are all capable of taking penalties. Sometimes it is not all about Kasumba, but the team. Furthermore, we have a list of penalty takers and I have no regrets at all for not taking it,” he added.

Goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya scored from the penalty, earning them three points in the game.

While he sets individual goals, Kasumba is also seeking to help his team achieve the highest possible finish. The best the 2009 champions can get is a second placed finish and playing third placed Tusker in their next game will be crucial to this target.

Kasumba knows as much; “We have what it takes to beat a team like Tusker. I don’t mean Tusker are weak but this is a fight for second place and I know it is ours.”

Sofapaka have so far managed 49 points and are placed fourth on the log.

 

The second stint at Sofapaka will not end in the best way for goalkeeper George Opiyo, who admits they failed to hit their targets for 2017, despite posting a massive improvement from the performance in 2016.

Opiyo rejoined the team at the start of 2017, the target being to lift the side after a poor 2016 campaign that saw the 2009 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions escape relegation on the final day of the season.

With a massive financial injection, coming from the sponsorship pumped in by betting firm Betika, the club was expected to deliver some silverware but with two matches remaining, Sofapaka is placed fourth on the log and can only battle for second spot.

“I think as a team we have failed the president. This year the team was well organized in terms of finances and the management did all to support us. The least we should have done was to win some silverware, and that is what we promised but sadly it will not come to pass.

“For me as a player, that is a low moment,” he told Soka.

Opiyo was used mostly as cover for first choice Mathias Kigonya and in cup games. He says he has learnt a lot from the Ugandan international and believes the Ugandan has also taken lessons from him and the youthful Rueben Juma.

“Kigonya is a top keeper and to have someone like him as a team mate is the best thing. I have learnt a lot from him and I am a better keeper because of the competition I get from him. Both Juma and I have been pushing hard and challenging him for the position so you see that makes us better and keeps him on his feet as well.

“Every one of us has gained, and from a sportsman’s perspective, I can say it has all been great,” he added.

Sofapaka was eliminated from the GOtv Shield in the third round by finalists Kariobangi Sharks, and heading to the final two matches of the season, the team has managed 49 points, a massive 21 below league winners Gor Mahia.

First eleven:

1. Mathias Kigonya,
2. Willis Ouma
3. Wesley Onguso,
4. Jonathan Mugabi,
5. Rodgers Aloro,
6. Humphrey Okoti,
7. Timothy Luda,
8. Morris Odipo,
9. Francis Ochola,
10. Kennedy Oduor,
11. Ezekiel Okare.

Subs. Reuben Juma, Kwanya Dante, Ali Feni, Hilary Echesa, Samuel Mutiria, Brian Magonya, Mike Lumumba

Sofapaka deputy Coach John Baraza will tutor the team in Sunday’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match against Sony Sugar in Awendo in the absence of Head Coach Sam Ssimbwa who lost his relative.

Ssimbwa took a short sabbatical and left for his native Uganda to attend the burial of his uncle Philemon Kanakulya who passed away recently after a short illness.

Kanakulya died aged 75 and was scheduled to be buried yesterday in Mukono, some 24 kilometres from Ugandan capital Kampala.

Speaking from Kampala yesterday, Ssimbwa said he has known the deceased as an astute and visionary person who was a role model to many in the Kampala suburb of Mukono.

“We’ve lost a great person in Uganda whose philosophies were pegged on instilling righteousness amongst the current generation. May the Almighty GOD give his family strength during this trying time,”

In the meantime, Ssimbwa has wished Sofapaka the best of luck in Sunday’s potential explosive match against Sony Sugar at the Awendo sugarbelt.

“Go out there and demonstrate a true fighting spirit and this way, the desired result will come your way,” said Simbwa.

Sofapaka are seeking for every point at their disposal in their quest to wind up second in the KPL.

Sofapaka have declared that they will not press the panic buttons despite facing Sony Sugar in a crucial Kenyan Premier League (KPL) away match in Awendo on Sunday.

Awendo Green Stadium in Awassi is considered one of the dreariest hunting grounds in the KPL in which most clubs struggle to reap maximum points at the expense of home team Sony.

However, Sofapaka will be out to prove that this is an implausible belief that should be treated with the contempt it deserves as they plot on the downfall of Sony in their quest to wind up second in the KPL.

And confident as always, Sofapaka Head Coach Sam Ssimbwa said the team can always win anywhere and certainly doesn’t want Batoto Ba Mungu to be branded crybabies just because they will be playing in Awendo.

“We are focused and I guess we are moving in the right direction. We want to wind up the league strongly and I have instructed the players in the first eleven and even those who will be introduced in the game to give the Sony match their best shot,” said Ssimbwa.

Sofapaka may not be heading into the Awendo match with a swagger, having inexplicably settled for a barren draw with Mathare United in Narok last Wednesday, but Ssimbwa believes his team can win convincingly against the hosts to attain their ambitions.

“The resolve to produce the desired results is there and we are treating the match as a must-win as we yearn for a runner-up position. This is an opportunity to prove our doubters wrong,” quipped the tactician.

Sofapaka are placed third in the league and are a point shy of second-placed Tusker who will be at home against Thika United.

On the flip side, Sofapaka will take on Sony Sugar without diminutive striker Umaru Kasumba who hobbled off the pitch during training a week ago after sustaining an injury that has sidelined him for at least three matches.

Also ruled out of the match is youthful midfielder Mohammed Kilume who is serving suspension after picking a red card.

But the two misfortunes notwithstanding, Sofapaka have enough replacements especially in the attacking line in form of the likes of Ezekiel Okare and Feni Ali.

Evergreen Ugandan import Mathias Kigonya looks a sure bet between the posts and is expected to be shielded by Willis Ouma, Maurice Odipo and Jonathan Mugubi as match-maker Hillary Echesa leads in holding strings in midfield.

Sofapaka probable line-up:

Mathias Kigonya, Willis Ouma, Maurice Odipo, Rodgers Aloro, Jonathan Mugabi, Ezekiel Okare, Feni Ali, Edmond Kwanya, Kennedy Oduor, Hillary Echesa, Bernard Mang’oli

Despite dropping crucial points in a barren draw with Mathare United in a midweek clash at Narok Stadium on Wednesday, Sofapaka have refused to but the notion that their quest for a second place finish has been left in tatters.

Sofapaka Technical Director Martin Ndagano has declared that the team has not given up hope of winding up second to Gor Mahia and that they will keep the candle aglow to achieve this dream.

“It is not over yet until it’s over. We are still fighting to be placed second in the league and if we can chalk up maximum points in our remaining three matches and our closest rivals lose, we’ll achieve what we want,” said Ndagano.

Although the latest result was not what they expected, Ndagano categorically pointed out that the general performance of the team in the Narok match was far from disappointing.

“The good thing is that we’ve been creating chances and if the strikers can go an extra mile by being a little bit keen upfront, it will be the best thing to have happened at our camp,” offered Ndagano.

He gave an example of Ezekiel Okare and Edmond “Dante” Kwanya who constantly troubled Mathare United defence despite Sofapaka missing their lethal goal-poacher Umaru Kasumba who is nursing an injury.

“The game in Narok was a cliff-hanger of sorts but our team produced a splendid performance and in fact, Okare and Kwanya were unfortunate not to find the back of the net. Our team needs to remain focused because there is still room for improvement going forward,” explained Ndagano.

Sofapaka next assignment is against Sony Sugar this coming Sunday before taking on Chemelil and Zoo Kericho to wind up the season

The nine Round 31 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) matches that were initially scheduled for Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 October been moved to Saturday 11 November, as confirmed by the KPL secretariat.

The matches were called off due to the unrest that came with the presidential elections on Thursday 26 October, as teams experienced difficulty traveling to honor the games.

KPL had earlier requested the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to free up Tuesday 14 November, but the date has since been confirmed for the Kenya versus Zambia international friendly match.

In the matches scheduled, Tusker plays host to Sofapaka FC at Ruaraka Stadium as AFC Leopards takes on Chemelil Sugar at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos while Bandari FC will be at the Mbaraki Sports Club to welcome Ulinzi Stars.

Kakamega Homeboyz will play host to newly crowned champions Gor Mahia at the Mumias Sports Complex and Kariobangi Sharks will be at Moi International Sports Center (MISC) Kasarani, hosting Nzoia Sugar FC.

Sony Sugar and Nakumatt FC will be facing off at the Awendo Green Stadium in Migori County while Western Stima and Posta Rangers will have a date at Moi Stadium in Kisumu as Zoo FC and Thika United face off in Kericho and Mathare United FC will be hosting Muhoroni Youth FC at Ruaraka.

Sofapaka head coach Sam Ssimbwa came up as a leading candidate for the Uganda Cranes job upon the resignation of Serbian tactician Milutin Micho Sredojevic in July, but he has since declared a lack of interest in the job.

The Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA) announced the vacancy and called for applicants, both local and foreign, setting the deadline on Sunday 29 October but Ssimbwa confirmed to Soka he did not apply.

No motivation

Ssimbwa acknowledges that the same reasons Micho pointed to when handing in his resignation still bedevil the job thus no motivation for him to jump ship.

“I was interested at first but then I did not apply for the job because honestly I don’t believe the issues that Micho raised were adequately addressed. It is a job I would like to take and I believe with my profile I can do it well but there are pertinent issues that should be resolved first,” he said.

The Serb called time on his association with the Ugandan national team citing overdue wages in the region of $54,000 and a press conference on Monday 31 July, FUFA president Moses Magogo confirmed the resignation.

May consider

Ssimbwa, the August 2017 Coach of the Month in Kenya, says if the situation improves, he may consider vying for the post in future; “why not? At the moment there are better jobs out here but a chance to coach the national team with good management will always be open.

“If things improve I may consider.”

As Ssimbwa confirms pulling out of the race, strong indications point at the federation opting for the former Simba SC head coach Jackson Mayanja, who tendered his resignation at the Tanzanian giants earlier in October.

At the moment, the Cranes job is held by Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba jointly on interim basis.

Sofapaka striker Umaru Kasumba may not hit his target of bagging the top scorer’s accolade in his first taste of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after picking an injury that will see him miss a few of the team’s remaining matches.

Kasumba picked a shoulder injury in the team’s training on Tuesday and head coach Sam Ssimbwa has confirmed he traveled to Uganda for treatment and will not be fit for the next two matches, when Sofapaka faces Mathare United and Sony Sugar.

Final two matches

“He will definitely be out, and has traveled back home to continue with treatment; we may have him back for the last two matches of the season, against Tusker FC and Zoo,” Ssimbwa told Soka.

The striker has been a hit at the team, having joined in midseason and has so far netted 11 goals in 13 matches and he is just a goal behind the leading duo of Gor Mahia’s Jacques Tuyisenge and Nakumatt FC’s Kepha Aswani.

Ssimbwa admits it will be a blow to miss him but is confident the available players will do the job, with the target still being to finish second.

“He will be missed, definitely, considering the kind of performance he has been putting in but again we have others to fill up and I believe they will deliver. I trust my players,” he added.

Okoti back

Simbwa’s side has no more injury concerns and the coach confirms Humphrey Okoti, who had been out with a hamstring injury is back in training and in contention for the midweek game, against Mathare United.

“Okoti is improving well and he has started training. He may be available in the next game. So apart from Kasumba, we do not have any other injury concerns,” he noted.

Heading to their 31st match of the season, Sofapaka have managed 48 points.