Sofapaka FC’s veteran midfielder Hillary Echesa has officially announced his retirement after close to 20 years in football as a player,
Echesa began his career at the age of 16 years while he was a form two student in Nakuru. He featured for Transcom FC under the tutelage of the late Sammy Abida, having also previously featured for Nakuru Youth Olympic Centre in his early teen age.
He also featured for the Kenya Under 17 national team with his first match being an away clash to Mozambique where they lost 1-0. Since then he has played for over 16 clubs. In Kenya, he has been at the now defunct Mumias Sugar, Nzoia Sugar, Chemelil Sugar, Nakuru AllStars, Sofapaka and Tusker, where he even won the league title in 2011.
Outside Kenyan borders, Echesa has played for Yanga, Rayon Sport, Simba Malaysian sides PDRM FA, MP Muar, NS Betaria F.C. and Detras in Indonesia. A statement from the midfielder read:
The start is always scary and the ending so sad but what matters is in between that is worth…As I close the curtains of my football career as a player for over 20yrs,I would like to say how much this football can transform any individual who aspires to play and make a mark on his/her career.
I take this opportunity to thank abundantly all Nakuru football fraternity where it all started. Respect to coach Sammy Abida(RIP)Gabriel Muraya TM(RIP) and our father figure coach Sammy Nyongesa.would like to extend my appreciation to Nakuru youth Olympics Alumni for your all much-needed support.
I also to all clubs I rendered my service as a player both locally and abroad you will always be in my heart, and not forgetting our sports journalists who made the world to know our sportsmen and women of this beautiful game of this country. As I transit to football administration it’s my privilege to be part of this so much loved sport.
Echesa is currently the team manager at Sofapaka.
Sofapaka (SOTE (kama) FAMILIA (kwa) PAMOJA KUAFIKIA AZIMIO (all as a family working together towards success), as a professional club, begins its journey in early 2004 even though records indicate that prior to that, the team had been in existence for a couple of years back as a Church team; Maos Ministries Church to be precise. Three years after Mr. Elly Kalekwa had taken over the team, Sofapaka- still in the second tier- won the President’s Cup, an equivalent to today’s GOtv Shield. Promotion into the Premiership had to however wait for another year as the wrangles in the management of the Kenyan game meant even with their domestic cup triumph, they still weren’t ripe enough for the top flight. Coach Martin Ndagano and his assistant Diallo Mudimu felt one more season in the lower tier wouldn’t hurt and a year later had earned promotion into the Kenyan Premier League. By this time though, Mr. Kalekwa had seen it fit to add some experience in the technical bench and as Sofapaka were crowned Nationwide League Zone B champions, Robert Matano was at the helm. A church team would play in the KPL. All praise unto God.
As if winning the domestic cup while still in the lower tiers wasn’t history enough for them, Sofapaka Football Club won the Kenyan Premier League in their very first attempt. The two names on the score-sheet as the side drubbed Red Berets 3-0 on the final day is enough proof at what the Church side had gradually evolved into. A John Baraza brace either side of Zimbabwean Tafadzwa Dondo strike won Robert Matano the 2009 league title just ten months into the top tier.
Though started an amateur side with street boys turning out for the team in its raw years, Sofapaka could now attract a few names form across the borders. John Baraza, 2009 Golden Boot winner, had been to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) before, and in hindsight at least, seasoned top flight teams at the time should have been wary of Matano’s side. Wilson Oburu walked home with Goalkeeper of the Year award while Matano himself was Coach of the Year. Anthony Kimani bagged the season’s choice for Best Midfielder while his team manager Ben Matindi was crowned TM of the Year.
In the run-up to their maiden title, statements had been rife that the newbies wanted more from the top tier experience. First, Patrick Kagogo aiding a dismissal of defending champions Mathare United then title favorites Tusker FC. While Sofa battled towards the summit, AFC Leopards, promoted alongside Batoto Ba Mungu earlier that year, will remember this as the season when a hard earned point against SoNy Sugar on the last day kept them in the top flight.