The second leg of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) promotion/relegation playoff takes centre stage today at Dandora Stadium, with Sofapaka set to host National Super League (NSL) outfit Naivas in an all-stakes match.The match, set for kick-off at 1500 EAT, offers a chance for Batoto Ba Mungu to retain their place in the FKF Premier League (FKFPL) after finishing 16th on the 18-team log in the just-concluded campaign.Sofapaka heads into the encounter with a first-leg advantage. The Ezekiel Akwana-coached side emerged victorious in the first leg played last weekend at Police Sacco Grounds, where Jacob Onyango’s 89th-minute strike made the difference.##NAJAVA_MECA_8210017##Veteran coach Akwana, despite having a first-leg advantage, is cautious heading into the tie and has warned his charges against underestimating the opponents, though he maintains they are going out to finish the job.”We will not just sit back because we are ahead on aggregate. Our mission is clear: stay in the Premier League. We’re going all out for victory,” he stated.Sofapaka’s experienced skipper, Humphrey Mieno, echoed his coach’s sentiments, highlighting the team’s readiness for the decisive clash.“We are ready for the clash—physically and mentally. The coach has prepared us on how to neutralize any threats from our opponents,” Mieno said.Sofapaka CEO Ronald Okoth 100% sure of preserving top-flight statusNaivas, who finished third in the second tier, are aiming for a maiden trip to the Premier League, thus becoming the third NSL side to seal promotion to next season after Mara Sugar and Mathare United.However, it will be an uphill task to turn around the jinx that has befallen NSL sides in recent years, where top-flight sides have emerged victorious in the playoffs.The retailers’ left-back, Nixon Omondi, who has been a hit for the team this term, believes they have all it takes to overturn the first-leg defeat and march to the Premier League.”It’s going to be a tough duel considering they already have an edge in the tie due to the fact that they won the first leg contest, but we equally stand a chance, and I’m backing the team to avenge the defeat and win the match,” he told Mozzart Sport.”We have no other option than to win the return leg match, but to win by a good score if we are to earn promotion to the Premier League,” he affirmed.Collins Omondi’s charges will be banking on the experience of seasoned players Francis Nambute, Gradus Odhiambo, Chrispin Ochieng, and Eliud Lukuam to propel them to victory, as well as the return of the club’s leading scorer, Robert Karisa Ponda, who missed last week’s clash.Great season has KCB’s Derrick Omondi dreaming of national team coloursPlayoff FormatBoth matches will last 90 minutes, with the winner on aggregate securing a slot in the 2024/25 FKF Premier League.If the aggregate score is tied after regular time in the second match, the team with the greater number of away goals will be declared the winner.However, if the teams are tied on both aggregate and away goals, the match will proceed to penalties. The winner of the shootout will secure a place in next season’s top tier.
