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Sofapaka hope to avoid relegation when they face Naivas in the first leg of the FKFPL promotion and relegation playoff on Saturday
2009 FKFPL champions Sofapaka will be facing Naivas on Saturday in a crucial FKFPL promotion & relegation playoff set to take place at the Police Sacco Stadium hoping to maintain their top flight status after a largely troubled season both on and off the pitch.
Sofapaka finished 16th in the 2023/24 FKF Premier League season with 36 points, giving them a close shave as both Nzoia Sugar and Muhoroni Youth were automatically relegated by finishing 18th and 17th respectively.
However, this campaign, despite going for top signings including the return of Burundian striker Fiston Abdul Razak and hiring the services of Razak’s countrymen Francis Haringingo as the new head coach, they kicked off on a wrong footing finding themselves sucked into the relegation battle after only the first 10 rounds of matches.
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07:00 - 06.07.2024
FKFPL: Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa rubbishes Naivas threat ahead of relegation playoff double-header
Sofapaka boss Elly Kalekwa is super confident his charges will easily dispense Naivas over the two-legged FKFPL promotion/relegation playoff to maintain their topflight status for next season.
The unpleasant results prompted Kalekwa to ring changes to the technical bench, off went Haringingo, and in came former Kenya international Ezekiel Akwana. They continued to blow hot and cold and by the halfway stage of the season, they were deeply rooted at the basement of the table.
The hiring of former Harambee Stars coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno to take charge on an interim basis with Akwana being demoted to the deputy role, galvanized the team’s performances at the start of the second period and they finally hauled themselves to a playoff place.
Earlier this week, Otieno opted to return to Gor Mahia, having last served as coach during the 2018/2019 season, and the burden of surviving relegation now rests in the hands of Akwana.
“We were hoping to avoid the playoffs, but now that we're here, we have to give it our all. Saturday will be a serious survival battle, and we'll put in our best effort. One foot is still in the Premier League, but the other is out,” Akwana said in the build up to the first leg.
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17:00 - 05.07.2024
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Captain Humphrey Mieno echoed Akwana’s sentiments, acknowledging the challenge ahead. He added that they are mentally ready and motivated to maintain their top-flight status.
"Mentally, we are prepared. I hope we can continue from where we left off against Nzoia Sugar. We know Naivas is a very good team and highly motivated to get promoted to the Premier League. On our part, we want to maintain our Premier League status, so it will be a tough game, but we are ready and hopeful for a win," he stated.
Mieno also urged the club supporters to turn out for one last push and play a part in keeping the team in the league.
"It hasn't been an easy season for any of us, but I urge the fans to come and support us. Let them come and push us past this hurdle so we can maintain our KPL status," he added.
For Naivas, they managed to fill a third place slot to give themselves a chance of promotion after failing to secure the automatic promotion playoffs, as both Mara Sugar and Mathare United beat them to the positions.
Coach Collins 'Korea' Omondi has said he is confident of sealing promotion to the Premier League.
“The only setback is that I will miss my very influential striker Derick Anami. We will see how to fill his void, which is a challenge for other to rise to the occasion in this so important timing of the season,” Omondi said.
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