Ingwe clipped three points as Tusker goes on top
at Ruaraka Complex. Two first half goals, ninth and twenty fourth minute from Erick Otieno and Lawrence Luvanda, saw Brewers fend off relegation-bound Wazito to go top.
This is after Gor Mahia drew mailmen Posta Rangers 2-2 on Saturday leaving an interesting fixture as we head into league’s homestretch. Coach McKinstry’s side Kogalo with fifty three points a point behind new leaders Tusker now have to beat stubborn Kenya Police FC to pile pressure on Brewers at Kasarani on 22nd April, 2023.
At Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, visitors Kenya Police FC thrashed Vihiga Bullets 4-0 to move to forty three points. Goals from Duke Abuya, Francis Kahata, Mang’eni and Elvis Rupia saw the law enforcers close the gap to five points from fourth-placed KCB FC. The bankers who beat Wazito FC 2:0 are level on points with third-placed Nzoia Sugar FC because of a better goal difference. Salim Babu boys’ Nzoia maintained their momentum by punishing slumboys Mathare United three nil.
AFC Leopards lost sixth spot to Bandari FC to after deduction of three points on a two goal basis following a scuffle that left the match abandoned versus Kakamega Homeboys FC at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday. The 31st minute incident where Ingwe players claimed that Homeboys new signing keeper Farouk Shikalo had handled the ball outside the box, turned out to be an all out brawl as the whole stadium and part of Kakamega-Webuye road was engulfed in teargas smoke from police repelling Ingwe technical bench and irate fans baying for blood of match officials.
Read: Omalla at the double as Kogalo keeps pole position
In a letter from FKF’s League and Competition Committee dated 19th April, 2023 through its CEO Barry Otieno, Patrick Aussem’s side will play next four FKF-PL matches behind closed doors, refund incurred medical costs of centre referee Michael Obuya, pay a fine of Kes500,000 and disciplinary proceedings opened on coaches Aussem and Lawrence Webo’s conduct.
Stern action from FKF body charged with football regulation in the country, is an attempt to deal with hooliganism that has riddled Kenyan football for sometime now. Earlier on, FKF through Chairman Nick Mwendwa appeared before Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture on match-fixing menace that has gripped local football.
League standing as at April 21.Photo courtesy of FKF-PL
Following an investigation, the FKF has suspended 25 individuals, consisting of 18 players and seven match officials over fixing claims. Mwendwa alluded that ‘inadequate financial resources at both club and federation level are making teams and match officials vulnerable to match-fixing cartels’. MP Dan Wanyama’s led Committee promised to enact legislation on criminalising match-fixing that’s massive threat to football as a sport and industry. There has been cries of match-fixing.
However, even as FKF struggle to sanitize local football, some fans have raised concerns with regards to match timings. Some claim that scheduling a match at 1pm doesn’t give fans enough time to reach the stadium support their teams and a result it hurts revenue like gate collections. Its time that the federation embrace the club fans fraternity as an important cog and adds it to the long list of things that should be looked into to improve local football.
In round 26 stubborn Nzoia host league leaders Tusker at Sudi stadium as second-placed Gor trade their guns towards Kenya Police FC at Karasani stadium.
