Bring On Gor! Sofapaka Coach Baraza Says After Mathare Thumping

13th February 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

The 2009 league winners set sights on the scalp of SPL champions after 4-1 thumping of log leaders on Tuesday

Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza. PHOTO/Goal.com

SUMMARY

Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza said his players are ready to battle it out against SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC after a scintillating performance yesterday at the Kasarani Stadium
The 2009 champions thrashed Mathare United FC 4-1 to move up to third on the SPL table with 23 points, two shy of the league leaders
The win extended Sofapaka’s winning streak to five matches and the former Harambee Stars forward is confident that they are in the right frame of mind to take on the record league champions
Mathare remain joint-top of the standings, level on points with Bandari FC, who only tail the 2008 champions due to an inferior goal difference

NAIROBI, Kenya- Sofapaka FC head coach John Baraza charged his players are eying the prized scalp of SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC after a scintillating performance on Tuesday at the MISC Kasarani Stadium which left the former winners in a position to challenge for the title.

The 2009 title holders thrashed log leaders Mathare United FC 4-1 to move up to third on the SPL table with 23 points, two shy of the front runners as they relegated the record 17-time league winners to fourth.

Sofapaka were in top form, completely dominating the first half and going into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

An early Elli Asieche goal got off the mark before Hillary Achesa scored from a well taken free-kick and reliable forward Umaru Kasumba made it three right before the break.

“If you score more goals it gives you confidence and that is what you need as a team.

“We are in the right state of mind and I think we are ready for the tough test against Gor over the weekend,” Baraza told SportPesa News after the match.

The win extended Sofapaka’s winning streak to five and the former Harambee Stars forward and two-time league most valuable player is confident that they are in the right frame of mind to take on the record league champions.

Baraza was demoted to the assistant coach role following the appointment of American-Egyptian Melis Medo in November last year but was recently reinstated as head coach when the former resigned.

“The win is a big motivation for my players ahead of the game we facing over the weekend. The relationship between me and players is what I have been working on,” Baraza underlined.

“I want them to understand me more and vice versa. They have the right attitude to perform on the pitch.

Sofapaka are a point above Gor, who left the country on Tuesday morning ahead of their second CAF Confederations Cup Group D encounter against Petro Luanda in Angola later Wednesday.

The two sides will lock horns at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday, February 16 from 3pm local time (+3GMT).

On the other hand, Francis Kimanzi slammed his players for blowing a five-point lead at the SPL summit after a dismal run of four successive games without a win.

"We made mistakes that made us concede all those goals. We played like we did not want to win as compared to our opponents who showed they desperately needed the win.

Mathare remain joint-top of the standings, level on points with Bandari FC, who only tail the 2008 champions on goal difference.

The Slum boys travel to the Kericho Green Stadium to take on 13th place Zoo FC in their next league assignment on Sunday.