Sofapaka unveil Angolan tactician Divaldo Alves as new coach
By Lynette Matheka, August 9, 2019
Former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka have enlisted the services of Portuguese tactician Divaldo Alves to take over the reins from former Kenyan international John Baraza.
In what will be his first coaching job on the continent, the Angolan-born Portuguese has promised to deliver a title for ‘Batoto ba Mungu’ this season.
“I know the team has not won the league since 2009 but we will do the best to put our blood on the pitch just to see the team win a title this season,” Alves said when he visited the team at their Eastleigh High School training base yesterday.
Baraza, who will now deputise Alves, was hired in January following the resignation of Egyptian-born American Melis Medo and guided the 2009 champions to a fifth place finish last season.
“I have seen a bit of what the players are like from the training session and I am happy with their technical ability in handling the ball, the passing and vision.
Of course there are a few things here that we need to change which is normal in football and I promise that we will work on it together,” added Alves. The tactician, who says to have worked with coaches in Angola, South Africa and Algeria in workshops before, is keen on bringing attacking football at the club.
“My philosophy is based on attack. I am an attacking coach and I love to have the ball and score.
This is my mentality but we also must have a balance between attack and defence,” said the Portuguese, who is set to watch the team in a friendly match at Camp Toyoyo today before laying out his plans and officially from Monday.
Alves has close to 26 years of coaching experience working in Malaysia, Lithuania, Oman and his native Portugal.