Wazito FC will be seeking to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Nzoia Sugar FC with a win over troubled Sofapaka FC on Saturday afternoon at the Thika-Sub County stadium.Both teams lost their last league matches; 8th placed Wazito went down 2-1 to the Millers at the Sudi Stadium in Bungoma while Sofapaka who currently occupy position 13 suffered the same fate against Tusker FC at the Ruaraka Grounds.On paper, both teams have nothing much to fight for in the game. They are both safe from the drop and none of the sides is battling relegation. A win for either side will only help them move up in the league and enhance their chances of finishing in a better position.It is a match that will also witness some reunions. Kevin Omondi, and Joe Waithira, both ex Wazito FC player will be facing their former club while Eli Asieche of Wazito will for the first time play against a team that he has played the majority of his top-flight football for. Kevin Kimani is also an ex Sofapaka player while Francis Kimanzi once served as Sofapaka’s technical director.Final preparation ahead of @wazitofc clash tomorrow at Thika Municipal Stadium@betikaKe @OyandoRonny #BatotoBaMungu pic.twitter.com/fv6dp0SrQH— Sofapaka FC (@FC_Sofapaka) August 13, 2021 The Thika clash is an opportunity for both teams to bounce back but Batoto ba Mungu are disadvantaged. They have lost a number of players either through termination or contract running out. Paul Kiongera, Kepha Aswani, Amisi Bizimana, Collins Wakhungu, Piston Mutamba are no longer with the team and last week against Tusker, the 2009 champions had two keepers on the bench as they could not raise the quorum. The hosts will be without Maurice Ojwang who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.In the last five games, Wazito have managed two wins, two draws, and one defeat while Sofapaka have picked three defeats, a draw, and a loss. In the first leg staged in Wundanyi, Batoto ba Mungu picked an easy 2-0 win against Wazito and it is time for Francis Kimanzi’s charges to pick a win over the troubled outfit.Sofapaka coach Ken Odhiambo is already thinking about next season.“We are trying something new, we are trying to see if it’s going to work next season. We hope for the remaining three matches it’s going to work and then we can pick from there next season,” he said.Wazito’s Francis Kimanzi believes that his team is better prepared for Saturday’s game than they were for the first leg.“I am grateful because other than Maurice Ojwang, the rest of the players are injury-free, the training has been good and the players are highly motivated heading into the game. It will be a good game for us because the last time that we played them, we had not prepared well as a unit because we were just returning from the Covid-19 lockdown. This time we have prepared better, we are in better shape and we can get a win,” he stated.
