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Sofapaka coach David Ouma has demanded a hundred per cent performance from his charges when the team takes on Gor Mahia in a mid-week Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League match at Kasarani Complex on Wednesday.

The former national women’s football team (Harambee Starlets) trainer has made it clear that he was not amused by the input in the 2-1 defeat by Nairobi City Stars last weekend and that things must change come heavens or high water.

“This is going to be a high-pressure game for us but it’s upon the players to believe in themselves,” Ouma said after conducting a training session at Eastleigh High School on Monday.

Ouma takes no prisoners whenever the team performs poorly and has no qualms about giving a tongue-lashing to individual players who do not heed his advice. His incredibly brutal verbal beat-down may be misunderstood by many but this is what he has been doing during the team’s morning work-outs to the improvement of players.

Ouma cautioned the players to avoid complacency which cost them the match against City Stars “It unfortunate that we lost the match we dominated.

“It’s not every day that you hold sway for about 75 per cent only to squander chances. This must stop and we better under- stand that we are meeting a Go side that is enjoying the form of its life in the season,” said Ouma.

He emphasised:” The players and par- ticularly the strikers should make things happen by attacking and not sitting back. They should lead from the front instead of waiting for someone else in another department to do it.” Congolese import Roddy Manga, who came under heavy criticism from Ouma for spurning chances against Simba wa Nairobi, promised an improved game against Gor.

“I had a bad day in office against City Stars and shall try to atone for it against Gor. This is always a difficult game but I think I have what it takes to breach the opponent’s defence in my quest to help Sofapaka to a win,” said Manga who is the team’s leading goal scorer with four goals to his name

The team’s captain Tutus Achesa said they have been looking for- ward to the game with a lot of enthusiasm and that it’s upon all players to give their all and put behind them the disappoint- ment of the loss to City Stars.

In the meantime, Manga will come up against his nemesis in the race for the Golden Boot in the form of Gor marksman Benson Omala who is the leading scorer in the league with six goals. Omala has been a nightmare for many defenders and is expected to partner Bon- iface Omondi and George “Blackberry” Odhiambo in search of goals.

Meanwhile, league leaders, Tusker FC will be at home against FC Talanta. In their last four meetings, Tusker has a 3-1 advantage and on paper seems to have the edge on this match. FC Talanta who is in a disappointing 15th place with seven points off seven matches has only two wins thus far.

However, in their last match against bottom-placed Mathare United, they overcame a strong challenge to sail through with a 3-2 victory. Red-hot KCB FC in third place is coming alive and thus far has amassed 18 points off nine matches. The Bankers initially started the campaign slowly but are now picking up nicely with Zedekiah Otieno having six wins thus far in the campaign.