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Sofapaka coach John Baraza believes his team pulled off a “miracle” in defending their Kenya Premier League status, considering the club’s financial troubles in the season.

The club that occupied the bottom section of the league table throughout the season, won 5-1 aganist Thika United on the final match day their seventh win in all league games, to clinch KPL survival on the last day.

“Okay, I wanted so much for us to survive, but I couldn’t be very sure because it depended on too many factors. Matters were not in our hands. First we had to win the game, and then we needed Ushuru to lose otherwise our efforts would have been in vain.

“That was a lot of pressure and I just didn’t want to think about it. I was just focusing on that last game and when I found out that we had actually survived I was very happy.

“I am yet to get over the excitement. In fact, I can’t explain how we did it but we managed to survive and that is very exciting. This was a miracle,” Batoto ba Mungu coach told league portal.

Sofapaka’s plunged into deep financial troubles which saw exit of the key players in the beggining of the season together a factor that was contributed to club president absence in better part of the season.

However,the club president Elly Kalekwa resurfaced and in this week has confirmed appointment of  Sam Ssimbwa as their new head coach in the 2017 season to help restructure the team after a clamitous 2016 season and will be now be assisted by Baraza.

“We have learnt our lessons and like I said on the day of the final game, we will commence plans to strengthen the team and to ensure that the same does not happen ever again. We have a new coach coming, Sam Ssimbwa, who is a well respected coach and he will aid in restructuring the team.

“His return is a sign of the intentions we have as a club, and while we are counting on him to take us back to where we belong, I am also hoping that we can try and secure the financial future of the team.” He said.

Sofapaka joined Kenyan top flight in 2009 and Kalekwa beleives Ssimbwa ,who handled the team at some point in 2010 is the right man for the team at same point in 200 is the right man for team.

Batoto ba Mungu escaped relegation by the goal diffrence in their worst perfomance since joining the league.

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