Sofapaka have retained their place in the table of men following their 2-0 win on aggregate over National Super League side Naivas.The 2009 league champions 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.Naivas on the other hand, finished third in the second tier behind Mathare United and Mara Sugar who secured automatic promotion tickets. 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.##NAJAVA_MECA_8210017##Batoto Ba Mungu did more as they registered another 1-0 win today 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. Kahiro to returns to KCB after four-month spell at BandariAkwana, 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.Jacob Onyango and Darius Msagha are some of the players, who have been linked with an exit from the club.The club will also have to bring in a new head coach whose qualifications meet the required standards-CAF A badge.Sofapaka to lose star player after Naivas clashNaivas on the other hand, will definitely pick more positives from their seasons rather than dwelling on the failed promotion bid.The club was at some point on course for automatic promotion but couldn’t smart out of the difficult spell within a short time.
