Sofapaka claw Leopards to keep their survival hopes alive

Former Kenyan Premier League champions Sofapaka on Friday beat AFC Leopards 3-2 at a rain-soaked Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to keep alive their faint hopes of remaining in the top flight next season.

Alfred Wekesa opened the scoring for the Leopards early on before Ezekiel Okare headed home the equaliser in the 14th minute from a Noah Abich free-kick.

Okare then gave Batoto ba Mungu the lead in the 26th minute after yet again meeting Abich’s well-taken free-kick.

Both teams struggled to the break before the heavens opened up with heavy showers slowing the game in the second half.

With four minutes to the end, second half-substitute Moses Odhiambo found Charles Pilipili inside the area, before the former Ushuru winger rifled home to give Sofapaka a 3-1 lead.

There was still time for Jack Bruno to put his name on the scoresheet but Batoto ba Mungu held on to claim maximum points.

Immediately after the match, the club management moved to sack the entire technical bench, including interim coach Ezekiel Akwana, his assistant Nicholas Muyoti and goal keeping trainer Dick Francis.

Club chairman Dan Mule said in a fit of rage that they had decided to terminate the contracts of six players, and that he would reveal the names of those players one they have been served with release letters in due course.

This result came on the back of another humiliating 2-0 loss to their arch-rivals a Gor Mahia, and new club coach Stewart Hall who just arrived in the country two days ago has his work cut out in restoring the club’s image.

Sofapaka, who have not left the relegation zone since February, are now two points behind 14th-placed Ushuru, who face Muhoroni Youth on Saturday.