Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa is upbeat that the club will not be drawn into a relegation battle in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League this season.

After miraculously surviving the drop last season, extending their 16-year stay in the top flight, Batoto ba Mungu have started the current campaign on a disastrous note, losing their first two matches.

Despite hiring former Tusker coach and four-time Premier League winner Robert Matano, Sofapaka lost their season opener 1-0 against Tusker on August 24, followed by another 1-0 defeat to FC Talanta on September 14.

Although it’s still early to predict how the season will pan out, Batoto ba Mungu already find themselves at the bottom of the 18-team table without a point from two matches.

In addition to Sofapaka, reigning champions Gor Mahia and domestic Cup winners Kenya Police have also yet to earn points, as their involvement in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup led to their league matches being postponed.

Ulinzi Stars, who lost their opener 1-0 to Murang’a Seal, also have a game in hand.

Last season, Sofapaka started in a similar fashion, losing their first five matches before falling into the relegation zone.

They fought for survival until the final day of the campaign, ultimately avoiding the drop by the slimmest of margins.

They had to face National Super League (NSL) side Naivas FC in a two-legged FKF/NSL relegation/promotion playoff. Sofapaka won the playoff 2-0 on aggregate, winning both legs 1-0.

“We are very safe; there’s no need to panic. The problem with the first two matches is that we didn’t have most of our new players available, so I can’t judge the outcome,” Kalekwa stated during a past interview. “We have a good team, and there’s no need to worry.”

“We’ve signed several new players, including five foreign players who are yet to be cleared to play. This is why our results haven’t been great. These five are very important, and once they’re cleared, everything will be fine.”