Baraza hails competitive league, predicts tight fight for the title

Sofapaka’s interim coach John Baraza believes the Kenya Premier League (KPL) is more competitive this season than ever before.

The four-time KPL Golden Boot winner says the competition is tight than ever with even the bottom teams putting in strong shifts and is predicting a tight fight for the coveted KPL gong.

However, according to the former Harambee Stars striker, the competitiveness of the top division will not in any way harm their quest for a first league title in a decade and the second for the club.

“The league is very competitive this time round. Everyone is playing like a champion in waiting. Even the clubs at the bottom of the log  play like they do not deserve to be there. Basically, the competition is tough,” said the former striker.

Baraza says the current quality in the league serves to keep them focused in the pursuit of a first league title since the 2009 heroics insisting they are a force to reckon with.

“We want to win the title. It makes us put in more effort. Ours is to continue playing well and registering good results. We are hopeful of the title come the end of the season,” he noted.

Baraza who was crowned as the KPL Best Player in 2009 also believes that squad depth is vital in the title race as injuries, fatigue and a dip in form tend to catch up with most clubs when the race hits up, a situation he is out to avoid with a few additions.

Sofapaka are currently top of the KPL log, on 33 points, one above second placed Gor Mahia, who have played three games less.