Kenya: Blow for Akwana

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

1 April 2011

SOFAPAKA will be waiting on the fitness of Harambee Stars striker Bob Mugalia ahead of tomorrow’s CAF Cup second round second leg clash against Ismailly of Egypt.

Mugalia arrived back into the country yesterday along with his compatriots from Abuja, Nigeria, where the national team Harambee Stars lost 3-0. He took part in his club training session at Nyayo Stadium yesterday morning. “We will assess him to see if he can feature in the match at all. But he has played in two tough matches for the national team and has had very little time to recover,” said Sofapaka coach Ezekiel Akwana.

The FKL Cup champions already have key players missing. Central defender Edgar Ochieng is suspended while compatriot George Owino is just recovering from a knee injury.

With Mugalia looking doubtful for tomorrow’s match, Sofapaka have a huge task at their hands in their bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit they suffered at the hands of Ismailly in Egypt two weeks ago. ” There is nothing impossible. We have players with experience who can take us through into the next round,” he added.

According to reports attributed to the club’s President Elly Kalekwa, head coach Francis Kimanzi will be available to start his job but might only play an advisory role to the technical bench as he is yet to know the players he will soon be working with.

Akwana will also be boosted by the availability of international Osborne Monday, who played his first match of the season for the 2009 champions in their first league loss of this campaign at home to Sony Sugar last weekend.

Meanwhile, the tickets for the clash went on sale yesterday with the tickets for terraces priced at Sh100. VIP tickets will sell at Sh500. The tickets according to the club, will not be sold on match day tomorrow and are available at the 20th Century, Kenya cinema, Nyayo Stadium and City Stadium.

Meanwhile, there will only be one Kenya Premier League match tomorrow when champions Ulinzi Stars host Mathare United in Nakuru. This is due to Harambee Stars international fixtures and involvement of Sofapaka in the CAF Confederation Cup return leg against Egyptian side Ismailly.

KPL has also sought to clarify that the Top Eight clash pitting Gor Mahia versus Mathare United that was postponed from last week will now be played next Wednesday in a double header that will also see Ulinzi Stars battle Karuturi Sports.

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