We shall take on league leaders KCB in a Betking Premier League match on Saturday at Ruaraka Grounds.

Ahead of the match that will be our second game of the second leg campaign, below is a preview of all you need to know about Saturday’s fixture.

Match Stats
18 league fixtures have been played between the two teams, sofapaka has won 10 duels while our opponents won four, the remaining four encounters ended in a draw. In the last meeting between the two teams, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Form guide
17 points separate us from our opponents. We are on 19 points and 12th on the log while the Bankers top the table on 36 points. Recent form has KCB on a good run winning the previous two fixtures while it’s the complete contrast with BatotoBaMungu who have lost both matches.

Team News
Timothy Otieno: Knee Injury
Timothy Otieno has been ruled out due to a knee injury for at least three weeks. The striker suffered the setback during Monday’s match against City Stars

Aigba Moubaraka: Suspension
Custodian Abdoul Moubaraka will be out due to suspension. The keeper was red-carded during the Nairobi City Stars match.

Benard Muiruri: Groin
Youngster Benard Muiruri is continuing with his recovery.

When: Saturday 29th May
Venue: Ruaraka Grounds
Time: 3:00PM.
Live on Startimes TV

Head coach Ken Odhiambo is confident despite a 3-0 defeat by Nairobi City Stars.

Speaking after the match, Odhiambo has termed the defeat a wake-up call ahead of the next match.

On Nairobi City Stars
We didn’t start well as we had planned, we conceded an early penalty into the match and this drastically changed everything for us yesterday. We panicked after going down and what followed was unexplainable.”

On back to back defeats
“This is football and yes it happens, what matters is how you get yourself back on track after such situations. We have identified areas of concern that need to be addressed and am confident we shall be ready for the next match.”

On whether title ambitions still achievable;
“We played our first match of the remaining 15 of the second leg. I believe we can make it by simply ensuring we score and keep tight at the back. Frankly speaking, we have a good team and what we need to do is to stay calm and motivate the players, we have seen teams make it and yes we too can do it.”

Sofapaka will take on league leaders KCB on Saturday

First-half goals by Peter Opiyo, David Agesa, and Abdallah Shittu were all City stars needed to avert first-leg defeat.

The host got onto a high note in the game-winning a penalty with just three minutes of play, Peter Opiyo made no mistake to slot the first of three for City Stars 12 minutes later City Stars scored the second through Davis Agesa, the midfielder lashed on a lost ball which keeper Aigba Moubarak failed to deal with to make it 2-0. With hosts the better side in the first half took full advantage and control of the encounter in the 28th minute, former AFC Leopards defender Abdallah Salim headed in past Moubarak in goal.

Juma’s miss
In the 28th minute we were forced to make an early change in the tie, Nixon Omondi paved way for Alex Imbusia, his introduction injected more punch up front and five minutes later we were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately, Juma failed to convert from the spot to reduce the deficit only for his attempt to hit the bar with the keeper beaten.

Aigba’s red card
More misery would ensue in the closing stages of the first half as we were reduced to ten men, keeper Aigba Moubarak received his marching orders after being red-carded for a foul play on Nicholas Kipkirui.

Omondi’s save
The final phase of the match produced a good fight from the lads, just after the restart, Kevin Omondi pulled up a huge save, the custodian paired away Anthony Kimani’s effort from the spot

Okal’s miss
Roy Okal almost pulled one back but we were denied by the crossbar yet again. A hard shot on goal by Timothy Otieno was too hard for Njuge to handle, the City Stars keeper save was followed up by Okal who chipped the ball over the keeper only to be denied by the bar.

The host held firmly to their 3-0 lead to mark revenge for their first-leg defeat in Wundanyi.

We play against Nairobi City Stars fc at Ruaraka Grounds on 24th May 2021 for our round 18 match Betking Premier League. And this is how we lineup to face them, as headed by our coach Ken Odhiambo.

STARTING ELEVEN INCLUDE:

Aigba Moubarak .30
Roy Okal .10
Ambrose Sifuna .11
Michael Kibwage .12
Timothy Otieno .15
Titus Achesa .20
Isaac Mitima .23
Lawrence Juma .24
Stephen Okola .27
Nixon Omondi .28
Sebastine Sunday .66

Subs
Kevin Omondi .35
Mohammed Kilume .4
David Nshimirimana .6
Collins Wakhungu .7
Pistone Mutamba .9
Joseph Waithira .16
Alex Imbusia .17
Michael Bodo .22
David Kingatua .40

Nairobi City Stars will welcome Sofapaka Football Club in a Betking Premier League match on Monday at Ruaraka grounds.

Ahead of the first tie of the second leg, head coach Ken Odhiambo has termed the fixture a must-win, this what he had to say;

On facing City Stars
“First am proud of the players they played well against Gor Mahia we dominated the match unfortunately we were unlucky at the end. Tomorrow we take on City Stars we understand the challenge ahead and we are ready for the tie. We won’t underrate them but will face them just as we did in our last match. We are well prepared and ready to take on them on Monday.”

On his thoughts on the start of the second leg

“We are beginning the second leg tomorrow against City Stars. We are going into the fixture to start the second phase on a high, we want to have a different leg by collecting maximum points in our upcoming matches. ”

On whether City Stars match a must-win tie;

“Having ended the first leg on a defeat we have to bounce back on Monday, definitely we are going for a win in the match. ”

On latest on the team news

“We are glad to have Alex Imbusia back after a foot injury setback. Youngster Benard Muiruri will miss the tie yet again as he continues with his recovery so will be Simon Masaka who has been taken ill due to malaria.”

The match will kick-off at 3pm at Ruaraka grounds.

We shall take on host Nairobi City Stars in a Betking Premier League match on Monday at Utalii grounds.

Ahead of the match that will usher in our second leg campaign, below is a preview of all you need to know about Monday’s fixture.

Match Stats;
A sum of 18 league fixtures has been played between the two teams, sofapaka has won 10 duels with our opponents winning four while the remaining four encounters ended in a draw. In the last meeting between the two sides, Ambrose Sifuna’s strike was the difference as we defeated our opponents 1-0.

Form guide;
Two places and two points on the log separates the two sides. We are on 19 points and 10th on the log while City Stars are on 17points and 12th in the standings. Recent form from sees both teams having lost in the last fixtures.

Team News
Alex Imbusia;
The club has been boosted by the timely return of Alex Imbusia. The winger has fully recovered from a foot injury.

When: Monday 24th May
Venue: Utalii grounds
Time: 3:00PM.

Sofapaka will take on Nairobi City Stars on Monday 24th as the second leg begins.

With the second leg of the Betking Premier League 2020/21 season commencing, club assistant captain Titus Achesa has rallied on his teammates to go for nothing less than wins.

On concluding the first leg on a defeat;

” Our last match against Gor Mahia was our undoing. We lost the encounter due to our very own mistake, we played well but we lost concentration at a crucial time and we got punished.”

On reflecting on the first phase of the season;

It has been a leg filled with a lot of mixed results, we have a quality squad and we hoped for a strong start but that hasn’t been the case. Our position on the log isn’t a good one we are a big club and we ought to be among the clubs topping the league standings.

On there being pressure to turn around the performance;

“Definitely yes, sofapaka is a big club, and results are always expected week in week out. We haven’t been a good run of results and no doubt the pressure is on us to get the needed results.

On facing City Stars

“We are well prepared for Monday’s duel, we have no option but to go for the points. We want to revive our season and that will only be realistic when we begin with a win on Monday. We respect our opponents they have a good team but we want t get our season back on track thus a win we are going for .”

On his thoughts on the second leg

” The season is far from the end, the second is just begging and it’s a huge opportunity for us to make it right. We want to compete to the last day of the season thus we are going to fight for maximum points to the end.” Achesa concluded.

Gor Mahia emerged 2-1winners in yesterday’s rescheduled Betking Premier League Fixture in Wundanyi.

Head coach Ken Odhiambo has attributed to costly mistakes as the difference as we went down to Gor Mahia yesterday.

On the match;
“We had a decent game yesterday, we were a bit off in the first half but we recollected ourselves and our second half was a superb one. We pressed them and gave them problems upfront and our efforts didn’t take long before we got the equalizing goal.”

Costly mistake the difference yesterday

“We were on a high momentum in the closing stages of the encounter, we were on a serious hunt for the winning goal but we failed to take caution at the back. We got punished by a mistake we could have avoided, I feel we lost by our own doing .”

On the next fixture;
“Gor Mahia tie is now behind us we are shifting focus to our next match against Nairobi City Stars. We want to have a decent second leg of the season. ”

We shall take on Nairobi City Stars on Monday, May 24th.

Alpha Onyango’s late striker was the difference as Gor Mahia beat Sofapaka 2-1 at home.

Otieno’s attempt
Timothy Otieno came close to give us the lead with 12 minutes of play. With a long-range pass from Titus Achesa, Otieno’s shot lacked enough power to beat Gad Mathews on goal.

Mubarak’s big save
Custodian Abduol Moubarak made a huge save in the early minutes of the game. The Togo international made a fingertip save denying Clifton Miheso’s goal-bound effort.

Okelo’s opener
Gor Mahia took the lead through Tito Okelo, the lanky forward headed in from Kenneth Muguna’s deliver.

Aches equalizer
Six minutes upon resumption, a hard shot on goal by Titus Achesa proved too hard for Gad Mathew in goal. Achesa’s goal leveled the scores much to the relief of the team.

Alpha’s winner
Substitute Alpha Onyango who was in the barely five minutes, scored the winning goal for the visitors heading in past Abduol Moubarak.

Sofapaka will next take on Nairobi City Stars.

Sofapaka welcomes Gor Mahia on Thursday in a rescheduled Betking Premier League fixture.

Ahead of matchday 17 , coach Odhiambo held his press briefing, and this what he had to say:

On Gor Mahia match
“We are facing a tricky side, they haven’t had a good season so far regardless of such they pose a threat. We are going into the tie with a clear plan and approach because we have a target and we want to achieve that on Thursday.”

On kog’alo tie a must-win encounter;
“Definitely yes our target is clear we collected maximum points on Sunday and we want to build on it come Thursday. As I said before we are taking one game at a time and Thursday’s encounter is another opportunity to push and go for the win. ”

On consistency
“Consistency has been an issue for us this season, we have had mixed results before the lockdown two months ago. On Sunday we had a perfect start and we want to win yet again on Thursday to build on the confidence.”

On team news
“We have no fresh injury concern from the weekend fixture except for Benard Muiruri and Alex Imbusia who are continuing with their recovery. The rest of the squad is in good health ahead of Thursday showdown.” Concluded Odhiambo