By Feverpitch Reporter
Kenyan Premier League champions Sofapaka on Tuesday beat Mtibwa Sugar 3-1 in their opening Tusker Cup tournament match at the Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam, where Kenyan international kingpin defender Edgar "Fighter" Ochieng’ played the entire 90 minutes of his debut for Sofapaka.
Ochieng’s move from Mathare United to Sofapaka had yet to be officially announced when the new Premiership title holders left the country to take part in the six-team Christmas tournament in Tanzania, but on Tuesday, United chairman Bob Munro, said the players’ club switch had been completed.
Not only that, the United chairman said they had acceded to Sofapaka’s quest for two other United Kenya internationals: "Kevin Ochieng’ (Opondo) and John Onami, who scored in his debut on Tuesday for Sofapaka, have been released to their new club.
Loyal to Mathare
"Edgar, especially, has always been loyal to Mathare and we had no problems letting him go to pursue other goals," said Munro.
Sofapaka are bracing themselves for (African clubs’) Champions League football next year where their first round opponents are Egyptian club Ismailia. The lure of continental football must have been compelling to Ochieng’ and his United colleagues to join Sofapaka.
In Dar es Salaam also on Tuesday, Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa said Ochieng’s contract with Mathare United was running up to January, but he was desperate for the defender to play in the Tusker Cup.
Sofapaka had made some monetary restitution to Mathare United, Kalekwa said.
Sofapaka fielded all the three former Mathare players and their contribution proved immense. Onami opened the scoring after 28 minutes beating Mtibwa goalkeeper Shaaban Kado with a low shot from 18 yards.
Other newly signed players hit the ground running. Nicholas Muyoti, in from Sher Karuturi, added the second on the hour mark. Then Hugo Nzoka, a new man from Sony Sugar struck, heading in the third in the 79th minute.
Defender Obadiah Mwangusa scored Mtibwa’s consolation goal with six minutes to go. Their coach Salum Mayanga said the defeat placed his team in a difficult position to reach the semi-finals.
Mtibwa face the arduous task of winning their last match against Dar giants and current Tanzania Vodacom Premier League runaway leaders Simba on Saturday to proceed in the tournament.
The pooling is:-
Group ‘A’ - Simba, Mtibwa Sugar (Tanzania Mainland), Sofapaka (Kenya)
Group ‘B’ - Young Africans (Tanzania Mainland), Mafunzo (Zanzibar), Tusker (Kenya)
After the opening game, among independent observers the verdict was out that Sofapaka had overawed Mtibwa and that the Kenya champions clash with Simba on Thursday had instantly become a top draw.
"Sofapaka was a revelation that Kenya club football is of seriously high standards and locals here will want to make a comparison when Sofapaka play Simba, the best team in Tanzania at the moment.
"This is good for Tusker Cup because we can expect a packed Uhuru Stadium on Thursday," said Florian Kaijage the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) communication manager.
The jubilant Sofapaka President who watched the match praised his players, saying: "They did their job excellently. It is a big result for us, we played against a good team but in the end we came on top."
The other Kenya club Tusker are set to play Mafunzo of Zanzibar on Wednesday.
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