Kenya: Sofapaka Leave Behind Three Players

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

27 May 2011

Former Harambee Stars striker Francis Ouma is one of the big names who will miss out of Sofapaka’s 18-man squad that leaves the country tomorrow for Tunisia where they face Club Africaine in a CAF Cup last sixteen encounter on Sunday.

Ouma has been dropped alongside James Orundu and Abdfulatiff Omar, owing to various reasons. Dodo Kayombo, Kilonzo Tumba and Heritier Ndombele, who did not travel with the team to DRC last month, owing to their nationalities as refugees have been given the nod and will travel with the team.

Ouma has been a pale shadow of the man who scored 15 goals to lead his then club Mathare United to a first ever league title as well as picking up the top scorers award.

The striker has fallen down the pecking order since joining the ‘Watoto wa Mungu’ behind the likes of John Baraza, Bob Mugalia and John Onami and Patrick Kagogo.

The FKL Cup champions are fighting on three fronts both domestically and on the continent, and were due to play Western Stima last evening for a place in the final of the Gifted left back Omar, who is still nursing an injury. Sofapaka players in the national soccer team, Harambee Stars will miss the friendly trip to Naimbia due to their engagements but will team up with the rest of their compatriots in the Stars team ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on June 5.

Both teams will be seeking a slot in the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup, with Sofapaka the only East African team left in the championship. Captain James Situma is confident that this time round, they will overturn their poor away run to come back home with a win. “We have prepared well for this match and I am confident we will bring home a good result,” he said.

Coach Francis Kimanzi said they want to make history by becoming the first club to qualify for the group stage from the Kenya and is quietly confident ahead of the match. ” We have beaten some of the best teams on the continent and we have nothing to be afraid of against Club African in the this round,” added Kimanzi.

The coach once again reiterated that a an away goal in Tunis will give them impetus to win the encounter. ” If we can get an way goal like we did against Lupopo, then we will be in the driving seat to win the match when we play the return leg in Nairobi,” he said.

Kimanzi said the club is ready for the psychological games of the North Africans. ” We know what to expect from them and we are ready,” he added. He said the club have a psychological edge over the North Africans especially after beating Ismailia in the first round. “We have already beaten one North African club and the players are not worried,” he said.

The match will be played in an empty stadium as Africaine are facing a punishment from CAF over previous incidences involving pitch invasion by fans.

Sofapaka squad: Goalkeepers: George Opiyo, Zacharia Onyango; Defenders: Edgar Ochieng, Said Rajab, Kilonzo Tumba, Thomas Wanyama, Dodo Kayombo; Midfieders: Osborne Monday, Heritier Ndombele, John Njoroge, Humphrey Mieno, James Situma (captain), Mudde Mussa, Titus Mulama; Strikers: John Barasa, John Onami, Bob Mugalia and Patrick Kagogo.

AllAfrica – All the Time