Naivas Supermarket Fail to Reach Premier League
Naivas Supermarket failed to gain promotion in joining the Premier league by failing to beat the 2009 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka.
Sofapaka avoided being relegated following their 2-0 win on aggregate over National Super League side Naivas in the play-offs.
Sofapaka had to confirm their place in the top flight through the relegation/promotion playoff thanks to an awful season that saw them finish third from bottom.
Having won the first leg of the playoff 1-0 last weekend, Sofapaka needed a draw of any kind in the second leg to retain their place in the top tier.
Batoto Ba Mungu did more as they registered another 1-0 win today, Sunday, July 14th, 2024 at Dandora Stadium to earn yet another season in the top league.
Andre Kalama scored the all-important goal in the first half to save Sofapaka the shame of becoming the third top tier club to lose the playoff after Vihiga United (Mulembe United) and Kisumu All Stars.
Despite losing their coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who bolted out days to the playoffs, Sofapaka will have to thank their assistant Ezekiel Akwana for leading them past the crucial hurdle.
Akwana, stuck with the club since October last year and will be remembered for wrestling the club out of the difficult ground and in during tough financial times.
Having sealed it, Sofapaka will shift focus to player recruitment as several of their stars have reportedly played their last game for the club.
