Kenya: Sofapaka Seeks to Floor Ismaily

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

2 April 2011

For any Kenyan football team beating an Egyptian side presents the sought of task that faced the biblical David when confronted by the gigantic Goliath.

That is the kind of arduous task that FKL Cup champions Sofapaka face when they seek to overturn a first leg 2-0 CAF Cup second round loss to Egyptian side Ismaily. Whether the result will be the same as it was centuries ago between the Israelite and the Philistines remains to be seen after 90 minutes of a CAF Cup confrontation at Nyayo Stadium today. “The task is difficult but not impossible. We have trained well over the last two weeks and we are ready for the match,” quipped Sofapaka coach Ezekiel Akwana, who will be relinquishing his position to Francis Kimanzi, who was expected to arrive back into the country last evening.

Already, Sofapaka know the mountain they will have to climb if they are get past the Egyptians. Last year in their debut season, they lost on a 2-0 aggregate score against the same opponents but striker John Baraza believes this time round it will be different. “We are a different team from last year and the advantage is that we are playing the second leg at home in front of our own supporters,” said the veteran striker, who is yet to hit the back of the net in the continental tourney.

Akwana’s side will have to contend with the absence of their regular central defensive partnership of the suspended Edgar ‘Fighter’ Ochieng and George Owino who is still hampered by his knee injury not to mention long term casualty keeper Wilson Obungu, who had a shoulder surgery early this year and is not expected to recover in months.”Their absence is big blow but we have players who have the quality to take us past Ismaily,” suggested Akwana.

It will be no small achievement if Sofapaka go past the Egyptians. Already they have covered themselves in glory by becoming the first Kenyan side in years to progress into the second round of a continental competition after dispatching Aviacao of Angola in the last round. “We have shown we can compete with the best, and hopefully we will prove that again and proceed into the next round,” said skipper James Situma.

The Kenyan representatives received a timely boost with Harambee Stars’ Congolese born striker Bob Mugalia passed fit to be included in the squad. Victory for either Sofapaka or Ismailly will see them romp into the last 16 of the tournament

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