Sofapaka closing in on Burundian duo

The free-spending 2009 league champions Sofapaka are on the verge of signing experienced Burundi internationals David Nshimirimana and Amissi Bizimana.

Nshimirimana, a central defender and Amissi Bizimana, an attacking midfielder, have been training with the Ken Odhiambo coached club at the Eastleigh High School grounds in the past one week. 

 Sources at the club indicate that the two have impressed Odhiambo and are likely to put pen to paper early next week and thus be considered for selection during next week's league match against Zoo FC at the Wundanyi Stadium. 

 The club boss Elly Kalekwa apparently shipped in the two Burundi nationals to fill in the foreign slots left by the Nigerian duo of Promise Chinonso and Michael Karamor who were not spared by last month's purge which swept nine players at the club. Karamor has since joined the struggling Western Stima for an unspecified period.

 The arrival of Nshimirimana is expected to seal the loopholes at the club’s rear which is guilty of keeping a clean sheet in the last nine league encounters.

 The battle-hardened defender who can be slotted at the right-back boasts of massive international experience having featured for Zambia's Buildcon as well as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where he partnered Frederic Nsabiyumva at the heart of the Swallows defence.

 The former Mukura Victory man bid to command consistent playing time will, however, be put to test by former Harambee Stars Under 23 skipper Michael Kibwage and Rwandese defender Isaac Mitima. The two joined Batoto Ba Mungu at the start of the season from KCB and APR respectively.

 Bizzimana who also has a host of national team caps under his belt is billed to fill in Elli Asieche’s shoes. The latter shockingly ditched the club for Wazito on Wednesday amid rumours that he did not see eye to eye with Odhiambo, a January acquisition from Bandari.

Besides courting the two Burundians, Sofapaka is said to be pursuing a Togolese goalkeeper to beef the department which has let in thirteen goals in nine matches.

 Sofapaka nearly signed former Togo U20 goalkeeper Djehani N'guissan Yao in September 2019 but the deal fell through at the eleventh hour.

 Should they land their target, the club will drop either Mitima or Nigerian holding midfielder Sebastine Sunday in order to meet the required number of foreign players in the league.

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