Sofapaka have put behind their off the pitch struggles to start life in the new Football Kenya Federation Premier League on the right footing after humbling Nairobi City Stars 3-1 at the Wundanyi Stadium.The former league champions have endured tough times in recent times occasioned by transfer ban and lack of finances but towered past the challenges to hand new City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti a defeat in his first competitive match at the helm.The effects of the transfer embargo imposed by FIFA were there for all to see as coach Kennedy Odhiambo had only three substitutes on his technical bench limiting his options.Penalty to the home sideJuma to takeHe slides it in. Wrongfooting NjungeSOF 2️⃣ – 0️⃣ NCS#𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕓𝕒𝕎𝕒ℕ𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕚— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) September 26, 2021 The 2009 league champions were reported to Zurich by their former foreign players: Justin Mico and Moussa Omar for breach of contract and were subsequently barred from registering new players until they clear with them.Although the club has acquired the services of Dan Guya from Bandari, Hansel Ochieng and Said Tsuma from AFC Leopards and a couple of young players, their contribution to the team has been sliced to training sessions. Besides being barred from registering the new arsenals, the club was dealt a massive blow as a host of players left in search for greener pastures. The grim picture painted at the club was supposed to give City Stars an upper hand to dominate the game and register a comfortable win owing to their stability and the weeks of uninterrupted training.FULL TIME An entertaining contest at Wundanyi Grounds The visitors beatenSofapaka FC 3 Nairobi City Stars 1#SofapakaVsNCS#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/b9PYVt838C— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) September 26, 2021 However, it was the hosts who went up first through Joe Waithira who kissed the back of the net in the 40th minute after Alex Imbusia had put him through. Desperate to restore parity, Muyoti made three changes in the 59th minute bringing in Erick Ombija, Timothy Ouma and Peter Opiyo for Anthony Kimani, Rodgers Okumu and Elvis Noor respectively. He would later withdraw Ezekiel Odera for Vincent Otieno in later stages of second half.City Stars efforts to pull the leveler proved futile as Lawrence Juma doubled Sofapaka’s advantage in the 82nd minute from the spot after he was brought down. Ouma tried to reignite the hopes after halving the deficit in the 87th minute but Waithira plundered home the third goal in the 90th minute to confirm the three points for Batoto Ba Mungu.
