Former league champions Sofapaka FC will play second-tier football next season after their painful relegation from the SportPesa League, ending a remarkable 17-year stay in Kenya’s top flight.
Batoto Ba Mungu officially became the first side to be relegated this season following a dramatic 2-2 draw against Mathare United, a result that confirmed the end of an era for one of Kenya’s most memorable football projects.
The Elli Kalekwa-owned club enjoyed one of the greatest rises in Kenyan football history. Sofapaka first announced themselves by winning the FKF Cup, then known as the President’s Cup, while still competing in the National Super League, becoming the first club to achieve that milestone.
READ MORE:2009 champions Sofapaka relegated from the SportPesa League after draw with Mathare United
They would later stun the country by winning the top-flight league title in their debut season in 2009, instantly cementing themselves among Kenya’s football elite.
However, the 2025/26 campaign has been nothing short of disastrous for the former champions. Sofapaka currently sit bottom of the table with only 18 points after managing just three wins all season , the fewest victories in the league. They have drawn nine matches and suffered 19 defeats, the highest number of losses recorded in the division this season.
Their struggles have also been evident at both ends of the pitch. Sofapaka have scored only 17 goals, the joint-lowest tally in the league, while conceding 42 goals, the highest in the division, highlighting the magnitude of the problems that have haunted the club throughout the campaign.
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Coach Manoah reveals reasons behind Sofapaka’s relegation
Head coach Edward Manoah, who joined the club from Mara Sugar FC barely a month ago, has now opened up on the factors that contributed to the club’s historic relegation.
According to the experienced tactician, financial instability severely affected the morale inside the dressing room long before he arrived at the club.
“When I came in, the biggest issue I found was the level of confidence within the playing unit. It had dropped to very low levels and all this was caused by a lack of resources, which created a huge disparity.”
The tactician admitted that despite the difficult conditions, the players continued to show professionalism and commitment even as uncertainty surrounded the club.
“The players really tried to show up for training despite the situation and pushed through, but the money issue played a very big part. I must commend them for remaining committed even during that period of uncertainty.”
Manoah also pointed to the massive squad disruption during the mid-season transfer window as another major factor behind Sofapaka’s downfall. The club lost several influential players midway through the season after already seeing a number of first-team stars leave before the campaign began.
The departures forced the club into panic recruitment, bringing in more than 20 players from lower-tier sides in an attempt to rebuild the squad.
“The mid-season transfer window was an issue because the club lost several important players during that period. Due to financial incapability, they were unable to attract quality replacements who could help the team survive relegation.”
“When we came in, after assessing the situation, we started preparing the group for the eventuality we had foreseen, especially the possibility of relegation.”
Sofapaka’s relegation now marks one of the most shocking falls in recent Kenyan football history.
From league champions and cup history-makers to dropping into the second tier, Batoto Ba Mungu now face the difficult task of rebuilding and rediscovering the identity that once made them one of the most feared sides in the country.