Sofapaka coach Ezekiel Akwana has expressed his frustration with the officiating following his team’s 2-0 loss to Gor Mahia in a controversial FKF Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. Despite a valiant effort from his side, Akwana believes that poor decisions from the referee played a major role in their defeat, and he did not hold back in voicing his displeasure.
Sofapaka started the match with confidence, but the early stages were marred by a mistake from their goalkeeper, Evans Ouma, which led to the opening goal. Ouma came off his line to claim a freekick but failed to make a clean catch, allowing Gor Mahia’s Geoffrey ‘Simiti’ Ochieng to head home the ball into the net. The early goal put Sofapaka on the back foot, but they continued to push forward, creating a number of opportunities to get back into the game.
Despite the setback, Sofapaka showed resilience and continued to threaten the Gor Mahia defense. They had several chances to equalize, but poor finishing and missed opportunities meant they could not capitalize on their attacking play. However, it was the second goal from Gor Mahia that left Akwana seething with anger.
Shariff Musa, the Gor Mahia winger, doubled his team’s lead in the second half with a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced down. The ball appeared to have not fully crossed the line, but the referee gave the goal after a brief moment of hesitation. Sofapaka players immediately protested the decision, arguing that the ball had not crossed the line. The controversy surrounding the goal led to heated exchanges between the players and the officials.
Akwana, speaking after the match, was adamant that the second goal should not have stood. He felt that the officiating was biased and that the referee had already made up his mind to favor Gor Mahia. According to Akwana, the referee was quick to give numerous fouls in favor of Gor Mahia, while Sofapaka was denied similar calls. His frustration was evident as he pointed to the second goal as a clear example of poor decision-making that ultimately influenced the outcome of the match.
“We played well, but the referee had a fixed mind. It’s like he wanted us to lose this match. He gave Gor Mahia so many fouls,” Akwana said. “If you look at the second Gor Mahia goal, it should not have stood. The first goal was our mistake, but the officiating let us down because we played well.”
While Sofapaka’s performance was not without flaws, Akwana’s frustration stems from the belief that his team deserved more from the game. The goalkeeper’s mistake leading to the first goal was unfortunate, but Akwana feels that the second goal, which came in controversial circumstances, was the decisive moment in the match. The protests from Sofapaka players following the goal were a clear indication of how strongly they felt about the referee’s decision.
Sofapaka’s defeat to Gor Mahia ended their recent good run in the FKF Premier League, as they had been showing positive form leading up to the match. The loss also saw Gor Mahia climb to fourth place in the standings, while Sofapaka’s position remained unchanged. Despite the result, Akwana remains confident in his team’s ability and believes that they can bounce back from this setback.
In conclusion, the match between Sofapaka and Gor Mahia was marred by controversy, with the officiating taking center stage in the aftermath of the game. While Sofapaka’s performance was not perfect, the team felt aggrieved by the referee’s decisions, particularly the second goal, which they believe should not have been allowed. Akwana’s criticism of the officiating highlights the frustration that often accompanies controversial decisions in football, especially when they have a direct impact on the outcome of the match.
