Ken Odhiambo: Lawrence Juma was average when I joined Sofapaka

Sofapaka head coach Ken Odhiambo says he played a part in making Lawrence Juma the player he is today when he joined the team.

Odhiambo moved to Sofapaka in December as a replacement for John Baraza who was shown the door after an unconvincing start to the new season. He however failed to lift the team and in the end they finished 12th in the log.

Despite the team's struggles this campaign, Lawi has been in great form for the club, scoring 16 premier league goals from midfield.

Odhiambo now says the great form that the former Nzoia Sugar and Gor Mahia man is in at the moment is down to the good work they have done together in training. He says prior to his arrival Juma was an average player.

"When I came into the team he was just an average player and we have worked with him and his good season has been down to the work we've done in training. For a midfielder to score 17 goals in the Kenyan league is really hard considering the two players with more goals than him (Rupia) Elvis and Kapaito (Erick) are both strikers and only means that there's something special that he was doing, he was doing some extra work and he deserves the success he has achieved, "he stated.

Gossip is rife that the midfielder could leave the team this window with some local teams and some abroad after his signature, although Odhiambo wants the player to remain with the team, he believes he can be replaced should he opt-out.

"We are not worried. He still had a contract with Sofapaka, he is our player. But in the event that he leaves we will definitely get another great player because if he has become this good it only means that there are other good players like him out there. But as a coach I want him to stay here because he is a great player and an important one to the team, "he added.