NAIROBI, Kenya, November 15 – A last-gasp Clifton Miheso strike handed Sofapaka FC GOtv Shield glory after edging out a hard fighting Super League Zone A winners Posta Rangers 2-1 at a drenched Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium.
After a barren first-half, Batoto Ba Mungu found the opener in the 52nd minute through their leading Kenyan Premier League (KPL) scorer Enock Agwanda who tapped in a Fiston Abdul Razak cross.
Former Harambee Stars defender Pascal Ochieng levelled scores six minutes later with a free header but it was Miheso who was the hero of the day after he swung a long range cross from the left that bounced past Rangers custodian Ian Otieno for the winner in the 90th minute.
The win was Sofapaka’s third domestic cup success and will represent the country at next year’s CAF Confederations Cup.
The winners received Sh1.5m (USD 16,685) while the losing finalists who bravely fought their more fancied opponents who fell just short of the KPL crown by two points pocketed Sh1m (USD 11,123.47).
Rangers shot-stopper Ian Otieno was outstanding, denying Anthony Ndolo and Miheso on three occasions.
The keeper made a breathtaking double stop on the stroke half-time to thwart Miheso’s powerful strike before punching Agwanda’s rebound away to keep his side in the game.
Otieno repelled a goal-bound Razak’s header in the 82nd as extra-time loomed but was powerless in the dying minutes when he helplessly watched the ball bounce over him to send the Sofapaka technical bench into raptures.
Batoto ba Mungu who reached the play-off round of the 2010 Continental Cup will be seeking to rally to the lucrative group stage this time round.
West Sugar finished third to pocket Sh700 (USD 7,786) after holders AFC Leopards were disqualified for causing abandonment of their semi-final against winners Sofapaka.
