Sofapaka has blasted former club captain Lawrence Juma over his decision to quit the club that he joined just over a season ago from Gor Mahia.
Kalekwa said Juma was ‘not that big’ and his departure will hardly be felt. Juma is among the 14 players who have left the side and the FIFA ban they are currently serving seems to be biting them on each day.
The 2009 Kenya Premier League champions are facing a huge crisis and lost 2-1 to Mathare United on Wednesday to inflict more pain to the already limping side.
“The team is bigger than anyone and we respect individual decisions, we don’t hold onto anybody, if someone chooses to leave then we have to grant them their wish,” Kalekwa told Citizen Digital on Thursday.
“You know Juma is not that big, he has not helped us win anything or even finish the league in better position, for instance last season we finished in Position 12, and he is not on the level of the likes of John Baraza who helped us lift the trophy, so we are still a stronger side without him,” he said.
Against Mathare United, Sofapaka could only raise 13 players for the match with recently signed players like Fredrick Odhiambo, Hansel Ochieng, Elvis Ronack, Kevin Omondi, Sammy Kiplagat, Robert Karisa and Said Tsuma among others unable to feature due to the transfer ban.
The club had initially released 12 players among them Timothy Otieno, Brian Magonya, Pistone Mutamba, Paul Kiongera, Mohammed Kilume, Brian Nyakan and Amissi Bizimana.
Sofapaka were handed a transfer ban by Fifa after two of their former players Moussa Omar and Justin Mico sued the club for accrued non-payment of salaries.
The Kenya international was named the FKF Premier League 2021 Midfielder of the Year after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 16 goals and registered five assists.
Juma has been heavily linked to newly promoted side Police FC who have already beefed up their squad with big name signings like Musa Mohamed, Duncan Otieno, Johnmark Makwata and Clifton Miheso.