Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
William Njuguna
23 December 2011
Sofapaka are set to sign KCB defender Eugene Asike by the end of next week. Asike, a Kenya under-23 international and national team Harambee Stars’ trialist is just two months off the end of his current contract with the bankers.
Asike is set to replace Dodo Kayombo. Sofapaka general team manager Jimmy Ambajo said Asike will be a useful addition to the squad for the next year’s campaign. We have monitored Asiko for he past couple of months and all we can say is that he is young player with potential to be one of the best defenders in the country,” added Ambajo.
Sofapaka, who acquired the services of Mathare tactician Salim Ali are set to revamp their squad in readiness for the start of the Kenya Premier League season after finishing third in the campaign.
“Next season, we want to go all out and win the league. We were very close this year but we had a poor start and that cost us the title. Next season, we want to reclaim the title we won last in 2009,” he added.
Sofapaka have already signed Hashim Mukwana and Felix Mulumbu from Rangers and have subsequently released Patrick Kagogo to Tusker.
Ambajo said talks are at an advanced stage to sign Sony Sugar’s youthful striker Enock Agwanda. “We are still in negotiation with them and hopefully, he should be Sofapaka player by the end of next week,” added Ambajo.
Ambajo said the club were keen on signing Mathare United’s and Kenya’s Premier League Player of the Year Kevin Kimani by January. “We hope to sign Kimani but know Mathare United will not just release him like that. We know it will be tough getting his signature but we will do everything in our power to get him join our team,” added Ambajo.
Sofapaka are set to start their preparations mid next month and Ambajo said they will concentrate their efforts on Premier League as they are not playing in any continental club competition.
” Last year, playing in both the CAF Champion League and the league took a lot out of us mentally and financially, and could have been the reason why we struggled in the local league.”
AllAfrica – All the Time