Sh0.5m for winners of Super Cup

In England it is called the Community Shield Cup, while in Kenya it’s the Super Cup: A football match contested between the champions of the Kenyan Premier League and the winners of the Football Kenya Limited (FKL) Cup.

This year, the season opener will see AFC Leopards clashing with Sofapaka on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium from 3pm.

And for the first time, winners will walk away with a Sh500, 000 prize, while the runners-up will pocket Sh250, 000.

MultiChoice Kenya and SuperSport have contributed a total of Sh2m to facilitate the Champions Cup where there the two teams will share Sh750, 000 on offer.

Dictate rhythm

“We will continue to invest aggressively in developing African content, and expanding the reach of our local content, thus our support for the Kenyan Premier League,” said MultiChoice Kenya’s general manager, Stephen Isaboke.

The 2010 Tusker Cup runners-up, Sofapaka FC, hope to have their new recruits on parade for the Sunday tie.

Robert Matano, Sofapaka’s head coach, said his side is set for the clash and he’s intending to field most of his newly-acquired players, including former Mathare United’s Edgar Ochieng as a deep-lying playmaker at the bottom of his midfield diamond, with a brief to dictate the rhythm of the team.

“We are ready for them (Leopards) and I hope to have my complete team ready by that day,” he said.

Good opportunity

Asked if his large numbers would take time before gelling, the former Kenya Pipeline head coach was optimistic of a “flowing” match.

“My team doesn’t have any problem of gelling. The players know each other and that won’t be a problem to us,” he added.

The game provides a good opportunity to get some insights into the sides, who are both likely to be challenging for most of the domestic titles, as well as the African Champions League, before the season proper kicks-off.

With both sides having experienced somewhat dramatic shake-ups as Leopards’ released Humphery Okoti and Vincent Omondi and Sofapaka’s raid for local and international new players - this match should prove to be an exciting curtain raiser ahead of the new season.