Sofapaka coach reveals painful mistakes behind club’s relegation
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 08.05.26. | 10:05
The 2009 league champions officially dropped to the second tier over the weekend, bringing to an end an illustrious 17-year stay in Kenya’s top-flight football
Sofapaka head coach Edward Manoah has openly laid bare two major factors that he believes contributed to the club’s relegation from the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL).
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The 2009 league champions officially dropped to the second tier over the weekend, bringing to an end an illustrious 17-year stay in Kenya’s top-flight football.
Despite putting up a spirited fight in their decisive clash against Mathare United, Sofapaka’s 2-2 draw against the “Slum Boys” proved insufficient to preserve their top-flight status, ultimately condemning Batoto Ba Mungu to relegation.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Manoah candidly revealed that persistent financial struggles and the club’s midseason transfer activity were the biggest reasons behind Sofapaka’s downfall.
According to the experienced tactician, the dire financial constraints significantly affected morale within the squad, leaving the team battling both psychological and financial challenges throughout the campaign.
“When I came in, the biggest issue I found was the level of confidence within the playing unit. It had dropped to very low levels, and all this was caused by a lack of resources, which created a huge disparity,” Manoah explained.
“The players really tried to show up for training despite the situation and pushed through, but the money issue played a very big part. I must commend them for remaining committed even during that period of uncertainty.”
The former Kakamega Homeboyz gaffer further noted that Sofapaka’s struggles were worsened during the midseason transfer window after the club lost several key players and failed to adequately replace them due to financial constraints.
“The midseason transfer window was also an issue because the club lost several important players during that period. Due to financial incapability, they were unable to attract quality replacements who could help the team survive relegation,” he added.
Manoah disclosed that upon joining the club, the technical bench had already identified relegation as a serious possibility and immediately began preparing the squad mentally for the difficult situation ahead.
“When we came in, after assessing the situation, we started preparing the group for the eventuality we had foreseen, especially the possibility of relegation.”
Despite the setback, Manoah believes Sofapaka can bounce back stronger if the club’s management remains patient and avoids dismantling the current squad.
He termed the relegation an opportunity for reflection, restructuring, and rebuilding rather than the end of the club’s journey.
The coach pointed to examples of Kenyan clubs such as Bandari, KCB, and Mathare United, all of whom previously suffered relegation before eventually re-establishing themselves in the top tier.
“The club has a good crop of young players and, if they are kept intact, they can form a solid foundation for an immediate return to the Premier League. Hopefully, the management will keep the club together and not disband it,” Manoah stated.
“We have seen major clubs such as Mathare, KCB, and Bandari go through relegation before restructuring and coming back stronger, so this can also become an opportunity for Sofapaka to rebuild.”
During their remarkable 17-year spell in the top flight, Sofapaka established itself as one of Kenya’s most successful modern-era clubs.
They famously became the first side in Kenyan football history to win the league title in their maiden top-flight season after clinching the 2009 FKF Premier League crown.
Batoto Ba Mungu also enjoyed domestic cup success, winning the Kenyan domestic cup titles in 2010 and 2014, alongside Super Cup triumphs in 2010 and 2011.
The club further lifted the Mashujaa Cup and Jamhuri Cup titles in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
On the continental stage, Sofapaka featured in the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup campaign, where they made headlines after eliminating Egyptian giants Ismaily SC in one of the club’s most memorable performances.
The club also made waves in the transfer market in 2015 following the high-profile sale of Rwandan striker Fiston Abdul Razak to South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in a deal reportedly worth KSh 24 million, one of the biggest transfers involving a Kenyan-based club at the time.