Players flee from broke Sofapaka
Sofapaka goalkeeper Everest Mutiyimana stops a shot from Mathare United's Harisson Mwendwa (centre) during their SportPesa Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on February 27, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- This is due to the financial challenges that have persisted at the club over the past three years.
- To make matters worse club chairman and owner Elly Kalekwa has stayed away from the country for more than one year now.
- Batoto ba Mungu are currently rock bottom in the KPL standings having won just two of their 15 games so far.
For the third time in as many transfer windows, Kenyan Premier League side Sofapaka will not be making any prominent signings.
This is due to the financial challenges that have persisted at the club over the past three years.
Sources within the team indicate that the financial situation is dire, and that the club may lose more than half of the players who featured for the team in the first leg of the season.
Speaking to Saturday Nation Sport on Friday, team manager Leone Kuasi admitted that the financial crisis has crippled operations at the 2009 league champions.
“We are having challenges but we are determined to finish the league strongly. There are players who have left already and perhaps some more will leave during this transfer window. We will get players who will help us wrap up the second leg but the quality of players we sign will be determined only by our budget,” Kuasi said.
Many players have initiated the process of terminating their contracts citing unpaid salaries and allowances.
To make matters worse club chairman and owner Elly Kalekwa has stayed away from the country for more than one year now.
Already, goalkeeper-cum-striker Barnabas Tiema has agreed terms with Kakamega Homeboyz pending the completion of his paperwork while the club’s first choice custodian, Evariste Mutuyimana has declined to extend his contract.
Ugandan Heritier Luvualu has moved to Ushuru leaving a gaping void which the Eastleigh-based club must fill before the second leg resumes on July 2.
A fortnight ago, the players were stranded in Kisumu after they were ejected from a hotel over unpaid bills.
It later emerged that the players had actually refused to board the team bus to Nairobi with the aim of forcing the club management to clear their dues before they disperse for the midseason break.
Despite these challenges, coach David Ouma has promised to stay put and work with the players that will be available when the league resumes.
“I am still here and I will work with whichever players I will have at my disposal when the second leg begins,” said Ouma who doubles up as national women’s team coach.
Batoto ba Mungu are currently rock bottom in the KPL standings having won just two of their 15 games so far.
