Former league champions eager to return lost glory after finishing last season in an awkward position 12
By Charles Thuku, September 23, 2021
Sofapaka has vowed to work overtime in order to improve performance in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League which kicks off this weekend.
The team is still yet to come to terms with one of their worst performances last season in the top tier league in which they wound up in the 12th position, although Head Coach Ken Odhiambo reckons that it is a bygone season that should not distract them from their future ambitions.
In a candid chat with People Sport yesterday, Odhiambo expressed confidence and optimism that Batoto Ba Mungu will achieve its targets this season..
He said their poor form last season was attributed to non-commitment by a section of their players, most of who have since parted ways with the team.
“We shall get back on track and hopefully win the title which we last laid our hands on in 2009.
This is football and it would not make sense to judge us from our performance last season.
There was an element of some of the players not giving their best last season but we have put the pitfalls behind us moving forward,” said Odhiambo.
The tactician said that despite losing key players, they have signed equally talented ones in equal measure and that he expects the midfield department to be one of the strongest.
Sofapaka have roped in midfielders Wilberforce Lugogo and Said Tsuma from Bandari and AFC Leopards respectively which gives Odhiambo several options in the department that has been held together by attack oriented international Lawrence Juma.
“This is a department that will not give me sleepless nights. We also have strikers who shall fit into the shoes of Aswani (Kepha), Otieno (Timothy), Kiongera (Paul) and Mutamba (Pistone) who were off-loaded by the team. We have a team that should challenge for the league honours for a good measure,” said Odhiambo.
He said the team was also not perturbed by the departure of Brian Nyaka to Bidco United since there is a good replacement.
Sofapaka opens their league campaign against Nairobi City Stars at Dawson Mwanyiumba Stadium in Wundanyi on Sunday with Odhiambo confident of stopping the vastly improved “Simba wa Nairobi”.
City Stars is an all round good team but if my players put their act together, we shall prevail.
Winning the match will give us confidence in the rest of the fixtures,” said Odhiambo.