Sofapaka unveils new head coach
By Peter Ochieng
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side, Sofapaka on Wednesday unveiled a new head coach.
Burundian national Francis Haringingo is the new man in the Batoto Ba Mungu dugout.
Haringingo takes over from David Ouma who now assumes a new role as the club’s sporting director.
Haringingo is credited for guiding Rwandese side Rayon Sports to their first Peace Cup title in seven years on June 4, 2023.
He has a rich coaching career that spans over 10 years.
Teams he previously managed include Kiyovu, Mukura, Messager and Vital’O. Coach Haringingo will be assisted by Pablo Nduwimana.
He is counting his lucky stars, after landing the opportunity to guide Sofapaka.
“I’m happy to be at Sofapaka as the new coach. I have heard a lot of brilliant stories about this team and it’s every coach’s dream to be associated with a brilliant club like this,” he said as quoted by the club's website.
“I have silently been watching the team’s training and I am very impressed in the talent here. We can make a formidable side if we make this talent and the hard work count.”
Meanwhile, highly rated striker, Burundian international Fiston Abdul Razak has returned to the team, 7 years after he left for South Africa giants Mamelodi Sundowns.
Razak is among 17 new faces at the club. He told the Club website that he is glad to be back.
“It feels good to be back at Sofapaka after seven years. This team is like a family and it is where I honed my skills, I could never forget it and its an honor to be back to help them win the local trophies and help them qualify for Champions League football next season,” Razak told said.
"After leaving Sofapaka in 2015, Razak whose move to Sundowns saw Sofapaka pocket Sh37 million, also had stints with Bloemfontein Celtic, Al-Zawraa (Iraq), JS Kabylie (Algeria), ENPPI SC (Egypt), Yanga (Tanzania) and Olympique Club de Khouribga of Morocco," stated the club.
Former Mathare United striker Daniel ‘Van Persie’ Otieno is also among the new signings.
Sofapaka won the only Premier League title in 2009.
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