Deputy captain John Barry Baraza shone again on Wednesday 16th May as he fired twice to down third placed AFC Leopards at the Nyayo National in the 2 – 1 win that also ensured Sofapaka finishes the first leg on top.

Mudde’s assist
Leopards threatened early on but it is Sofapaka who settled first in the game and the legendary lethal striker found the top right corner of the net in the 15th minute with one of his traditional bullet headers after fine work from Anthony Kimani and Musa Mudde who crossed from the right wing.

AFC Leopards did threaten from then on and forced goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng into a fine point blank save two minutes later from a Mike Baraza header and their midfielder Augustine Etemesi could not

Coach Salim Ali says the AFC Leopards match comes at a very difficult time for the players as they are required to play many difficult games within a short period of time, which he admits is not good for any athlete anywhere in the world.

Favourites

However he says the team is well prepared, motivated and raring to go as they face the third placed side, which he says are the favourites going into the game and are also buoyed by their strength in many departments.

However, Salim says he has a good strategy to down them and expects a good turn of events because Sofapaka is going into

Kenyan international striker Bob Mugalia will start from the bench as Sofapaka play AFC Leopards on Wednesday 16th May. His place in the starting line up will be taken up by Anthony Kimani, which is the only change from the team that beat Muhoroni Youth in the last game.

Line up:

Duncan Ochieng’, Hashim Mukhwana, Edgar Ochieng, Eugene Asike, Juma Abdalla, James Situma (Cpt), Musa Mudde, John Njoroge, Humphrey Mieno, Anthony Kimani, John Baraza

Substitutes:

David Okello (GK), Robert Binja, Bob Mugalia, Joseph Nyaga, Felly Mulumba, Heritier Luvualu, John Onami

Lethal is the word to be used in reference to John Baraza as he scored his ninth and tenth goals of the season to lift Sofapaka top of the Kenyan Premier League standings in the match against Muhoroni Youth played on Saturday 12^th May.

Juma the provider

Abdalla Juma was the provider for both goals with