2009 Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions, Sofapaka, got the going tough against competition newbies Bidco United, who held them to a barren draw at Thika Stadium on Sunday.
Bidco made their presence felt as early as in the 10th minute, when Erick Gichimu tested Sofapaka's custodian Moubarak Aigba with a fruitless long-range shot. Five minutes later, Sofapaka went on the rampage when midfielder Lawrence Juma set up Ambrose Sifuna whose resultant shot was saved by Omar Adisa.
David Orem should have put Bidco ahead in the 23rd minute after being neatly put through by Anthony Simasi only for the forward to fumble with the first touch with only Aigba to beat.
In the 33rd minute, Juma again picked out Timothy Otieno but the forward's attempt to lob the ball over an advancing Adisa ended up in another missed opportunity.
Eager to make a mark in the match, Sofapaka head coach Ken Odhiambo effected a tactical change immediately after the interval when he introduced Ammissi Bizimimana for Sifuna.
Then in the 53rd minute, Zachary Gathu almost broke the deadlock, but sent the ball inches wide while attempting to curl it into the top right corner. The outcome takes Sofapaka to 10th spot with 29 points while Bidco remains 12th with 27 points.
