Matano confident of Sofapaka's revival after crucial win over Shabana

Sofapaka head coach Robert Matano is confident his team can reclaim its former glory after securing their first win of the FKF Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Shabana at Gusii Stadium yesterday.

Sofapaka made history in 2009 by winning the league title in their debut season under Matano's guidance. However, this season has started off tough, with the team struggling to find form.

Matano, who rejoined Sofapaka in July following his departure from Tusker, believes the win against Shabana marks a turning point for the club.

"It’s a good win, and the team is now coming together," Matano said in an exclusive post-match interview.

"We hadn’t won a match this season, so this result is a good sign of better things ahead. We had a lot of new players who needed time to gel, and now we have a team that understands each other."

Douglas Ochoko scored the decisive goal just three minutes into the match, lifting Sofapaka to 12th in the FKF Premier League standings with five points from one win, two draws, and two losses.

"We've struggled to score, but now we’ve broken that barrier. Today’s win is a sign of progress, and we are focused on moving forward. By the end of the season, I believe we will be in a strong position," Matano added.

Despite facing financial challenges due to a lack of sponsorship, a problem acknowledged by club president Elly Kalekwa, Matano remains optimistic. He is confident that, despite the slow start to the 2024/25 season, Sofapaka will perform well.

The team’s next challenge comes on Sunday when they face Police FC at Dandora Stadium.