After two straight losses, Sofapaka are desperate to bounce back as they face league leaders KCB
After an ignominious 3-0 defeat by Nairobi City Stars, Sofapaka will be hoping to make a quick-fire recovery when they take on Betking Premier League title-chasers KCB at Ruaraka ground on Saturday.
This is one of the four fixtures lined up in the weekend with other title contenders AFC Leopards and Tusker also facing trick assignments.
For Sofapaka, nothing short of victory over the bankers, who share the top slot with Leopards, will calm their nerves and especially losing two matches two matches (2-1 to Gor Mahia and 3-0 to City Stars).
In retrospect, the latest loss by Batoto Ba Mungu to Stars has raised a lot of concern from their trainer Ken Odhiambo so much so that he gave the players a tongue lashing during the team’s training sessions at Eastleigh High School, telling them in no uncertain terms that he wants an improved show.
And in as much as he has averred they have put behind them the loss, he wants a hundred percent input from the players who were visibly devastated in the dressing room after slumping to Stars.
“We have put City Stars defeat behind us, we want to forget it as fast as possible to have everyone in the right mindset come Saturday.
We are facing an on-form side but this game is so important to us. A win is our priority in this fixture to bring an end to our poor form.
The team has depth and quality to compete, we got 15 matches to go and so I believe we shall find our way up the log.” said Odhiaimbo.
Sofapaka will miss striker Timothy Otieno has been ruled out due to a knee injury, so is custodian Aigba Moubarak who was sent off against City Stars.
In the meantime, KCB will be angling to win to take a run-away league at the expense of AFC Leopards who face Bidco United in Ruaraka on Sunday.
It will be interesting to observe which team between KCB and Leopards, two joint leaders in the chart will have a fruitful weekend.
The same applies to Tusker who relinquished the top slot to KCB few days ago.
Like KCB and Leopards, Tusker have a lot in their hands as they will come face to face with Vihiga Untied who are limping following a 1-0 loss to Gor Mahia on Thursday.
The result was a typical tit-for-tat as the newly promoted Vihiga had beaten Gor by a similar margin in the first leg.
