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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
FC Platinum’s opponents in the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round tie at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday, Sofapaka are expected to face Gor Mahia in the DSTV/Supersport Super Cup tonight.It is the season opener in that country and Sofapaka are hoping to use it as a warm-up game ahead of their international match against Zimbabwe’s Chibuku Super Cup champions.
To take part in the Caf Confederation Cup, Sofapaka won the FA Cup last year while Gor Mahia were league champions.
However, the match was hanging in the balance yesterday with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) saying its referees should stay away from the game.
The federation is embroiled in a fight with the Premier League as it wants the topflight division to introduce an 18-team league instead of the present 16.
Fifa have stepped in to say the issue should be resolved internally.
FKF and the Kenyan Premier Premier League’s relations are bad at the moment. The football federation has asked all its referees to shun the league until the impasse is resolved.
There was, however, a glimmer of hope that the match would go ahead as scheduled following word from the referees’ association’s GMT Ottieno on Monday that officials from last year’s register would be used.
Sofapaka assistant coach David Ouma was recently quoted as saying that the team was doing well in its preparations for the Caf Confederation Cup.
He described his players as showing hunger for success and that the off-season had not taken its toll on the team.
This is the team’s fourth week of preparations.
Ouma said they were hoping to go as far as possible in the tournament as they believed in the squad.
Sofapaka have bolstered their squad by acquiring the services of former Rwanda captain Mutuyimana Moussa, former Gor Mahia midfielder Kevin Omondi, Nakuru All Stars midfielder Erastus Mwaniki and defender Willis Ouma formerly with Chemelil Sugar ahead of this year’s domestic league and Africa campaign.
According to media reports from Kenya, Mutuyimana is a naturalised Rwandan, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His real name is Fabrice Kasereka.
He left Rwanda Police at the end of that country’s domestic league three months ago.
Sofapaka were formed in 2002 from men’s fellowship of the MAOS Ministries. They used to take part in inter-church competitions.
Then in 2004 the club was taken over by Elly Kalekwa who formed Sofapaka and they eventually joined the Nationwide league. As the club’s star continued to shine in 2007 they won the President’s Cup while playing in the Nationwide League.
Sofapaka is short for Sote kama Familia kwa Pamoja Kuafikia Azimio which is Swahili for “ We as a Family together to achieve a goal.”
“Batoto ba Mungu” (Children of God) as they are affectionately known, have won the President’s Cup in 2007, 2010 and 2014, Kenyan Premier League once in 2009, Kenyan Super Cup in 2009 and 2010 and are making their third appearance in the Caf Confederation Cup.
In 2011 they reached the play-off round while in 2008 they were disqualified and lost in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League in 2010.
Sofapaka are not assured of an easy stroll on the park when they face Zimbabwe’s representatives.
Coached by former Warriors player and coach, Norman Mapeza the Midlands side seems to have what it takes to play at that level. There is a good mixture of experienced horses and bubbling youth still eager to make an impression and probably go to better paying leagues.
They have two dependable goalkeepers in Petros Mhari and Francis Tizayi with the more physically imposing Mhari the first choice.
Daniel Vheremu, Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin, Aaron Katebe, Raphael Muduviwa are some of the defenders expected to shut out the home team on Sunday with Donald Ngoma and Obrey Chirwa leading the search for goals while Thabani Kamusoko is expected to offer leadership in a dynamic midfield.
Bongani Ndlovu