Burundian gaffer Francis Haringingo has agreed to coach Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League outfit Sofapaka FC on a two-year deal.

Haringingo in June announced that he was leaving Rayon Sports after guiding the club to the 2022-23 Peace Cup trophy which was their first silverware since the 2018-2019 season. He becomes Sofapaka’s new head coach, replacing David Ouma who has been appointed the club’s new sporting director.

“I’m happy to be at Sofapaka as the new coach. I have heard a lot of brilliant stories about this team and it’s every coach’s dream to be associated with a brilliant club like this,” Haringingo told the club’s website, adding: “I have silently been watching the team’s training and I am very impressed by the talent here. We can make a formidable side if we make this talent and the hard work count.”

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Haringingo had considerable success during his time in Rwanda with Mukura Victory Sports, Police FC, Kiyovu Sports, and Rayon Sports. He also previously handled Vital’O FC and Messaged FC in Burundi.

Meanwhile, highly rated striker, Burundian international Fiston Abdul Razak has returned to the team, seven years after he left the club to South Africa giants Mamelodi Sundowns in a record Sh 37 million deal. Razak who has previously been feted as the best locally-based African player is among 17 new faces at the club.

After leaving Sofapaka in 2015, Razak whose move to Sundowns saw Sofapaka pocket a cool Sh37 million, also had stints with Bloemfontein Celtic, Al-Zawraa (Iraq), JS Kabylie (Algeria), ENPPI SC (Egypt), Yanga (Tanzania) and Olympique Club de Khouribga of Morocco.