Pressure mounts as Sofapaka coach Timbe downplays KPL title prospects

Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe reacts during their GOtv Shield semi-final match against AFC Leopards at City Stadium, Nairobi, on October 20, 2014. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Sofapaka head coach Sam Timbe has downplayed his side’s chances of winning the Kenyan Premier League title despite narrowing the gap on league leaders Gor Mahia to one point.

Sofapaka beat the defending champions 3-2 in a match that was marred by hooliganism at the Kenyatta Stadium, on Sunday.
With two matches remaining, Batoto Ba Mungu have garnered 53 points, one adrift of Gor Mahia.

Unlike Gor who face Muhoroni Youth and KRA in their last two outings, Sofapaka have relatively tricky fixtures ahead of them against AFC Leopards and third-placed Tusker in their quest to recapture the title they won in 2009.

 TOUGH OPPOSITION

Despite tough opposition, Timbe, the former Uganda Cranes assistant coach insists the title race will go right down to the wire.

“It’s not yet over, but on Sunday, it was sweet victory in a tough environment. The title race is still wide open, but we are focusing on our remaining two matches to see what happens,” said Timbe.

“We now feel we are title contenders, but the we have to stay calm, remain focused and give our best. We’ve got to give everything we can because AFC Leopards and Tusker are tough teams.”

 

TITLE DECIDER

Billed as title decider, the Machakos encounter seemed to be a perfect cocktail with Eugene Asike scoring in his own net in the second minute of play following a miscalculated back-pass to his goalkeeper David Okeyo.

Later, Burundian international Fiston Abdoul silenced the travelling Gor fans with goals in either half, making the scoreline 2-1 in the 53rd minute.

However, the clash was temporarily stopped on two occasions in the last quarter. Hell broke loose in the 78th minute when a section of Gor fans started throwing objects into the pitch after Antony Ndolo’s goal. Police the started to use tear gas.

And in the 84th minute, a scuffle ensued between Sofapaka keeper David Okello and Baba Kizito after the Ugandan had reduced the deficit, forcing centre referee Nasur Dokar to stop the game again.

And after the match, Machakos town became a battlefield as the unruly fans engaged police in running battles that left scores of people injured.

The incident comes barely a week after a Gotv Shield semifinal match between AFC Leopards and Sofapaka was abandoned at the City Stadium due to crowd trouble.

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