Kibwage: We will take Sofapaka to where it belongs

Sofapaka defender Michael Kibwage is hoping the Football Kenya Federation Premier League will resume soon so they can work on helping the club get back to the top.

The 2009 champions have struggled for consistency in the ongoing campaign and out of the 15 league games, Batoto ba Mungu have managed just five wins, four draws and six losses.

As a result, they are placed 11th on the table with 19 points, 17 points shy of leaders Tusker FC.

The former KCB player concedes a slow start to the season led to the inconsistencies but the campaign can still be salvaged once the Kenya Government gives the green light.

“We want to win matches and take the team where it belongs, I mean at the top, our priority is to win the league and until the last whistle is blown nothing has changed, unfortunately we started on a low which is not our anthem. But we pray for the resumption of the league so that we can fight for our rightful place,” the Harambee Stars defender told Citizen Digital.

Kibwage was signed by Batoto ba Mungu from KCB last season when FKF ended the top-flight league owing to coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation is projecting that the top-tier league could resume next month.

FKF CEO Barry Otieno says they have been in behind-the-scene talks with the Government, and is crossing his fingers that the Ministry of Sports can okay the resumption to enable local players sharpen their skills ahead of World Cup and African Women Cup of Nations qualifiers for Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets respectively.

Athletes and officials from top-tier sports disciplines have recently received the first round of Covid-19 jab, seen as a first sign of possible return to action, and the federation chief adds that they are keen to have the sports and health ministries agree to a return to action, under strict protocols.

President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended sporting activities indefinitely for the second time in March due to the rising Covid-19 cases, but stakeholders have upped the pressure for a review of the ban.