Sofapaka’s Echesa hints at hanging his boots next year

Sofapaka’s midfielder Hillary Echesa has hinted at retiring from football next year to venture into coaching.
Echesa, 36, has previously played for 14 teams among them Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba, Rayon Sport of Rwanda, PDRM of
Malaysia and Chemelil Sugar, Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka in the Kenyan league.
Echesa, a returnee at Sofapaka’s ranks, said he is not growing any younger and as such, he has decided to leave the game to upcoming players and venture into coaching having secured a CAF Coaching License “C”.
“I have played football at top level for the last two decades having started off with Chemelil in 1999. I have had agreat career but most importantly, I have gained invaluable knowledge of the game and would wish to pass the same to younger players,” said Echesa. Echesa, who has had 37 caps with the national team is still serving Sofapaka under deputy coach John Baraza, a retired international, with whom he played with at Dar-Simba of Tanzania.
Echesa will not be renewing his contract with Sofapaka which expires on June 2018 but wants to leave a mark with Batoto Ba Mungu who have been like a home to him.
He thanked Sofapaka team management led by President Elly Kalekwa for ensuring that players’ incentives and salaries are paid in time. Echesa hails from a footballing family with his nephew Eric Johanna plying his trade in Sweden and her sister Christine Nabwire who turns out for Harambee Starlets.