Burundian international Abdul Razak Fiston has disclosed that he turned down lucrative deals from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon for a return to Sofapaka, seven years after he left the club for a mega money move to South Africa.
Fiston left Sofapaka at the height of his career for South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns for a then reported fee of 250,000 USD (Approx Sh37mn now), but has now returned to the club, one of 17 new players touching down at Batoto ba Mungu.
“I had an offer from Kuwait with a bigger salary than what I am getting here in Sofapaka. I also had an offer from Saudi Arabia’s second division as well as a club in Lebanon, but I decided to come back here because this is like a family to me,” Fiston told Capital Sport.
But why turn down the mega riches for a return to Batoto ba Mungu?
Fiston has disclosed that he chose to come back as he saw the team was struggling and had always promised club president Elly Kalekwa that he would one day return to the club.
“I was following Sofapaka on social media and I saw the way they were struggling. I talked to the president and he told me things were hard and I told him to give me just two more seasons to play abroad then I would return,” Fiston explained.
“I was to come back after Morocco but immediately, a club from Oman really insisted on me signing for them and I talked to the president and asked him to allow me another year. I can never forget where I come from and my heart ached when I saw the club struggling. This is why after Oman, I told the president I want to come back,” noted the Burundian.
Fiston left Sofapaka for Sundowns in 2015, playing there for two seasons before he was loaned out to Bloemfontein Celtic. He would then move to Angola and played for Primero de Agosto, before making another move to Iraq where he signed for Al Zawraa.
From there, he return to the continent, moving to North Africa where he had a two seas-m stint in 2018 and 2019 with JS Kabylie, before crossing over to Egypt for the next two years playing for ENPPI.
After Egypt, he moved back to East Africa signing for Young Africans (Yanga) in Tanzania, played for one season before moving back north, this time in Morocco signing for Olympique de Khouribga, playing for another two seasons and then joined Omani side Sur SC last year.
Back at Sofapaka, he has signed a one year contract and says he still looks forward for another bigger challenge.
But before then, he wants to help Sofapaka reclaim titles and believes they can win both the league and Cup this season.
“I have trained with the team for a few days and I believe we have a very good squad and we can attain our targets. We have many talented young players with good quality and I don’t see much of a difference now with the squad that we had back in 2014 in terms of quality. I have faith we can win with this group,” he added.
Also returning to the team is defender Mousa Omar who left the club in 2019. The club has also signed Khaleed Jumaan and David Otieno from Mathare United, winger Oliver Maloba from Nairobi City Stars, Darius Msagha from Bandari FC, Ian Simiyu from Nzoia Sugar as well as goalkeepers Stephen Otieno from Kakamega Homeboyz and Jacob Osano from Nairobi City Stars.
Among the youthful players joining the squad is Frankline Masibo from Mathare North FC, Edwin Lutta from AFC Leopards Youth, Christian Lubulu from Kibera Blackstars and the unattached Baron Ochieng.
The club has also snapped up Answar Shamun and Lucky Mrabu who were part of Team Kenya at the Africa Beach Games in Tunisia.
