Sofapaka boss Baraza says win at KCB was God-sent

Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza believes his side’s 1-0 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) victory over KCB FC at the Kenyatta Stadium on Sunday was ‘God-sent’.

How the win was achieved carried a sense of deja vu after Umaru Kasumba’s stoppage time penalty settled the tie, the same manner in which the same player had secured victory for them over KCB during the first leg.

“Credit to KCB, they have played a good game but unfortunately a mistake from their defender led to a goal. Probably it was written in the sky because it has repeated itself the way it was in the first leg,” Baraza said.

Kasumba stepped forward to covert from the spot after KCB skipper Michael Kibwage had brought down Ellie Asieche in the box. The events followed a similar script from last month when the Ugandan again stroke home the winner from the spot after Bethwell Warambo handled the ball in stoppage time.

KCB assistant coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo however slammed the decision to award the penalty against his side, claiming they were victims of poor officiating on Sunday afternoon despite putting on a match winning show.

“In the first leg it was our mistake. But today, I don’t know if it was our mistake or the referee’s mistake. And I believe that was a good tackle. This is a very bad decision that has gone against us. It is painful because the boys really worked hard today,” lamented the former Posta Rangers trainer.

The win which is Sofapaka’s 12th of the season has them second on 44 points, same as leaders Gor Mahia who have played four games less and boast of a superior goal difference with ‘The Bankers’ under the tutelage of head coach Frank Ouna ninth on 29 points from 23 rounds after suffering an eighth loss of the campaign.

Meanwhile Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala insists his side have no room celebration following a valuable 2-1 away win over Western Stima at the Kericho Green Stadium.

According to the former Nzoia Sugar tactician, the league fixtures are heavily congested underlining the need to focus on Wednesday’s home game against KCB.

“Every match is a tough one, be it home or away. Getting a point or three is a plus. The league is congested but we will continue fighting. We are already thinking of the KCB game,” noted the 36-year old former Coastal Union striker.

Elsewhere Western Stima coach Paul Ogai has decried bad luck for their abysmal run in the second leg of the season so far.

According to Ogai, his troops are playing to their best but the returns are dispiriting expressing his upturn in fortunes.

“It hasn’t been good for us, I can say we are unlucky because we play good football but we don’t get a win, if we try it’s only a point. It has been tough in this second leg but we are confident it will get better,” he noted following a 2-1 hone defeat to Bandari.