SOFAPAKA warmed up for their second leg, preliminary round Caf Confederation Cup tie against FC Platinum with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Ushuru in a Kenya Premier League season opener played on Sunday at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. WELLINGTON TONI SPORTS EDITOR
Sofapaka are expected in Bulawayo via Johannesburg on Thursday, trailing 2-1 from the first leg played at the Nyayo Stadium two weeks ago. Brian Muzondiwa and Donald Ngoma gave coach Norman Mapeza the two priceless away goals.
The return leg takes place on Saturday at Mandava Stadium after the facility passed a Caf inspection test and the accommodation at the state-of-the-art Pote Hills Lodge was given the thumbs-up.
The East Africans’ coach Sam Timbe stated after the match that the battle against Platinum was not yet over and on Sunday rang the changes as he sought to give his side a morale-boosting win.
Goalkeeper David Okello was dropped in favour of Evariste Mutuyimana, but the second-choice goalkeeper had a nightmarish start after pushing the ball into his own net just 60 seconds after the start to give Ushuru the lead.
However, Sofapaka fought back with striker John Baraza getting the leveller on the hour mark after tapping home a Collins Shivachi cross from the right.
Shivachi then scored the winner 15 minutes from time with a belter from outside the box after receiving a pass from Erastus Mwaniki.
Some of the key players expected to make the trip to Zvishavane are Patrick Kagogo, Danson Kago, Anthony Ndolo, Wilson Ouma and Maurice Odipo, although he only played 18 minutes against Ushuru — a team owned by Kenya’s tax collection arm.
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Timbe told the official KPL website that the win would lessen the pressure ahead of their next match against FC Platinum.
“The boys did not perform well in the first half, but it is good that they came back stronger in the second half,” he said.
“I am, however, happy with the results because it will help lessen the pressure on our shoulders ahead of the next match.”
Platinum, on the other hand, had a quite weekend as they continued with their preparations at Mandava.
Coach Mapeza dropped veterans Zambian international Aaron Katebe, Daniel Vheremu, Allen Gahadzikwa and Nelson Mazivisa for the opening leg, opting for the younger players in his team.
These include Tatenda Dzumbunu, Wisdom Mutasa, Emmanuel Mandiranga, Walter Musona, Raphael Muduviwa, Kelvin and Elvis Moyo.
