By Florence Ndungu,

2009 Kenya premier league champions Sofapaka have  to re- started  their pre-season training, ahead the 2016 season expected to kick off on the 13th February February

Confirmed New signings

Defenders Athman Buki formerly of relegated Kenya commercial Bank and Fredrick Kentile from Nakuru all stars who dropped to the lower tier after the culmination of the 2015 league are the latest acquisitions in Coach David Ouma’s fold.

Fresh start

The loss of veteran players in almost every department will sure be a cause to worry about with the likes of  Goalkeeper David Okelo, defenders Collins Shivachi and Anthony Ndolo, all who have signed up with Tusker fc, and Felly Mulumba who will be turning up for Bandari fc in the coming season, is a big loss to the team that finished 3rd on the KPL table standings on 47 Points.

International Players Departure

Sofapaka will will miss  the services of their five foreign players who were instrumental in their 3rd place finish in 2015. Ugandan Striker Harman Waswa has gone back to his home country and joined Ugandan club KCCA. Rwandese Attacker’s Miame Mbakie and Aphroidis Kanombe, Burundians Stevy Nzigamasabo and Ismail Neyonzimana (Refugee status) have left the club.

No Show

Evans Maliach who had been a target for Homeboys fc, Willis Ouma and Erastus Mwaniki who according to Coach David Ouma are suspected to be heading to Chemeli sugar and Faudi Ndaysenga were conspicuously missing during the second day of preseason training.

“Most of the player we have lost, their contracts had run out and have been released to join other clubs, while those whose contracts were running, the likes of Felly Mulumba, their departure was mutually agreed between the management and the players” Sofapaka head coach David Ouma told Soka25east.com

“The Management is well aware of the international player’s situation and they are handling the matter” added Ouma

GROUND ZERO

The departure of the many players has forced  the  technical bench at sofapaka to embark  on a talent search, with over 130 prospects turning up on the first day of training at Eastleigh high school to try their lack.

The Number was trimmed to 64, then to 32 with the number expected to narrow down to the best.

“With most of the player’s contracts coming to an end, I had anticipated the mass exodus and had been scouting for possible replacements and that’s while the talent search has a large number of players wanting to join the team”Ouma added

Sofapaka is however not out of the woods financially with players going for months without pay. This however did not stop them from finishing in a respectable position last year.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com