When Michael Kibwage left KCB to join 2009 league champions Sofapaka, things were expected to be all rosy, at least for the central defender. Thoughts of a better deal perhaps that was able to lure him from the Bankers’ coffers to Elly Kalekwa’s pockets over at Batoto ba Mungu.However, in football, just as in life, nothing ever works out the way you wish them to. After settling in during the early months of his stay at the one time Kenyan champions, things started going south at quite a frenetic pace barely one season into his two year contract at the Kalekwa funded outfit.After allegedly going for months without pay, the defender, who has long been touted as a future national team leader, sought to terminate his contract from the club but the higher powers were not going to let him be, not after the investment they made in the promising signing.🔵 | Club record signing 🗞️ | Kibwage finally here with us 🤝 | Joins us in welcoming @12Kibwage #BatotoBaMungu.@betikaKe pic.twitter.com/QsyPgA9Rra— Sofapaka FC (@FC_Sofapaka) October 15, 2020 His release letter was withheld and the player banished from mingling with the first team squad in training as he was reduced to waste away his talent with the reserve squad without being given any game time after he demanded to walk out in search of another home.“I have not been paid for four months and things have not been easy on my end. There are also other issues that have not been addressed and I think it is time I part ways with Sofapaka amicably,” the defender told Mozzart Sport in June.Kibwage divorcing Sofapaka after enduring four months without salaryEven despite taking the legal route of presenting his petition to the Sports Dispute Tribunal, the Kenyan international has never seen any light at the end of the tunnel forthcoming, leaving him frustrated with nowhere to turn to.Before the start of the 2021/2022 campaign, the former KCB man broke ranks completely with Sofapaka as he joined non-contracted players at the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) to try and keep fit while waiting for things to clear up.We continued with our non-contracted players’ football training at the Two Rivers KE Sports District Grounds this morning. Among the players who are part of the team include @MiesoMiheso, @12Kibwage , and Duncan Otieno among others. #kefwanoncontractedplayers##kefwaempowers pic.twitter.com/WL0p1YgtIg— Kefwa Gala Awards (@kefwaofficial) October 1, 2021 At some point, he joined and even trained with Bidco United with an aim of signing for the Thika based manufacturers but due to his never concluding case, he could not stick around any longer without offering any help.“I am not done with Sofapaka yet. We elected to go through the legal route with them but the courts keep pushing the dates every now and then to a point I got frustrated and left everything in the hands of my lawyer. Right now I am just training on my own because I could not stay at Bidco without offering anything to them on the pitch. That is the predicament I find myself in,” he said.From being selected in the national team Harambee Stars squad, Kibwage finds himself having not played for nearly six months owing to the frustrations he is going through.✨| Team CaptainMichael Kibwage captains @FC_Sofapaka A born natural leader they sayDespite only joining Batoto ba Mungu last year, the player has already taken over leadership duties,his calming presence & steady displays earning him a call up to the national team#BKPL pic.twitter.com/l0AfArTq4r— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) April 7, 2021 Despite the dramatic turn of events that have overshadowed the former captain of the club, Kibwage still believes he will have his paradise after the storm.“I know I will make my comeback to playing again. If I have been able to take it all for half a season and stay patient for all that time, I know everything will end. I signed a two year contract and one has already elapsed. We are almost halfway into the second year and even this will just end. After that I know I will be free to play again,” the player concluded.
