Struggling FKF Premier League outfit Sofapaka have hired the services of former international Ezekiel Akwana as an assistant coach with immediate effect.

Batoto ba Mungu President Elly Kalekwa confirmed the appointment to People Sports by saying: “We have hired the services of Ezekiel (Akwana) for a period of one year, he is returning home to where he belongs and we are happy he has accepted the offer to return home and continue with his role.”

On why Sofapaka went for the services of Akwana, who was formerly with Mathare United, Kalekwa said: “We wanted a coach, who understands well the philosophy of this great club and Akwana has always been part of this team (even in absentia), he is Sofapaka by blood and he will come in to assist our head coach Francis Haringingo from Burundi to turn around our fortunes.”

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Akwana’s last stint as a coach was at Mathare United where he resigned in January 2022, after they suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat at the hands of AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium. In 2011, he was in charge of Batoto ba Mungu albeit on an interim basis, who registered a historic 4-2 aggregate victory against Egyptian side Ismaily in the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Having won the first leg 2-0 in Cairo, Ismaily found the going tough in the return leg staged at Nyayo Stadium after they suffered a 4-0 defeat with goals from Congolese import Bob Mugalia, who grabbed a brace, Titus Mulama and Patrick Kagogo.

Akwana returns to Sofapaka which is currently lying at the basement of the 18-team table having amassed only one point from their last four matches and are yet to win a match. The point they have so far came from the 1-1 draw against champions Gor Mahia during their opening fixture of the 2023-24 campaign.

They have suffered three straight defeats – starting with 1-0 against Bandari, 3-1 against Posta Rangers, and Sunday’s 1-0 result against Ulinzi Stars.