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Sofapaka closing in on Zanzibar’s Makame

Zanzibar Heroes midfielder Abdul Aziz Makame in action for the side during the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 11- Former Kenyan Premier League champions Sofapaka will complete the signing of Zanzibar midfielder Abdul Aziz Makame in the next one week with the clubs already having agreed terms.

Batoto ba Mungu Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Kayoyi has revealed to Capital Sport that only a few details of the transfer remain to be completed but the Jang’ombe FC player will don the blue and white of Sofapaka in the coming season.

“We have been talking to the club for a while now and we are almost coming to an agreement. The talks are positive and I am certain we will land the player. He will be our final signing of the January window,” Kayoyi said on Thursday.

Head coach Sam Ssimbwa also acknowledges he has been informed of the pending arrival of the 21-year old, though he admits he doesn’t know much about him.

Sofapaka FC head coach Sam Ssimbwa issues instructions during a training session at te Eastleigh High School on January 11, 2017. Photo/TIMOTHY OLOBULU

“I didn’t have the privilege of watching CECAFA and so I didn’t see much of him. But my fellow coaches did watch him and the report I get is that he is a very good player and will be a very good addition to the team,” Ssimbwa said.

Makame mesmerized during the recently concluding CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup where he played a starring role in Zanzibar’s run to the final, where they lost 3-1 on post-match penalties to Kenya’s Harambee Stars. He was however injured after 21 minutes of the final.

Several KPL clubs were said to be trailing his services with Gor Mahia having expressed a concrete desire to land his services, but were slowed down by the lack of opportunity within their foreign player quota. AFC Leopards had also shown interest.

Sofapaka, the 2009 league champions have already snapped up one outstanding player from the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, having tied down Burundian centre back Mousa Omar to a two-year contract.

Sofapaka FC players gather after a training session at the Eastleigh High School on January 11, 2017. Photo/TIMOTHY OLOBULU

The club has also signed Western Stima utility Vitalis Akumu, left-back Yussuf Mohammed from Muhoroni Youth, former AFC Leopards keeper Ian Otieno, Kariobangi Sharks duo of Ibrahim Kitawi and Elli Asieche, Jackson Saleh, strikers Stephen Waruru and Kepha Aswani as well as midfielder Teddy Osok on loan from Gor Mahia.

Meanwhile, the club has released Ugandan defender Jonathan Mugabi, Sam Mutiria, Hansel Ochieng and George Opiyo while forward Morven Otinya has been shipped out on a season-long loan deal to Nzoia Sugar.

“It is a good team, but I can’t say it is the strongest. The one I had in 2010/2011 was one of the best. In this one, we only have one national team player. In 2010 we had up to nine players. But we are working during the pre-season to gel and hopefully we can compete,” head coach Ssimbwa said.

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Batoto ba Mungu kicks-off their 2018 KPL campaign at home against Bandari FC on February 4 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

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