Battle of Simbas: KHU awards Kisumu Simba points and slot at Africa event

GEORGE MUTIRA-01: Nairobi Simba George Mutira (l) fight with Wazee player Eddy Odhiambo and for the ball during the Vaisakhi Tournament played at Citypark. Simba won 1-0. ON 20/04/14 PHOTO:JENIPHER WACGHIE

Kisumu Simba will join Kenya Police as the country's representatives at this year's Africa Hockey Club Championships, which will be held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in November.

Kisumu Simba won their appeal before Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Disputes Committee and have back their docked points. This sees them return to the second spot in the league standing and hence secure the automatic slot for the continental men's club championships.

Nairobi Simba had filed a complaint to KHU citing Kisumu's use of an ineligible player in last season's Premier League title campaign.

After KHU deducted three points from Kisumu's tally, they tied with Nairobi Simba on 25 points. However, the Nairobi-based Simba edged out their colleagues based on a superior goal difference to snatch the club championship slot.

Kisumu admitted to have fielded Kenneth Nyongesa in their tie against Mvita XI unaware he was to miss a match due to the cards he had accumulated in other matches. However, they later raised concern that their Nairobi counterparts were fielding players without official release from other clubs for several seasons.

Nonetheless, Nairobi Simba player in question Nelson Shihale cleared his name saying he had long cut links with former club Strathmore University before signing for Nairobi Simba.

Kisumu Simba then refused to play new season matches until a fair judgment was given in regard to the dispute. KHU heard both sides at the weekend and ruled in favour of Kisumu Simba.

Kisumu Simba coach Cliffe Okello said that they were given the good news by their players, who represented them in the hearing and were yet to receive official communication from KHU.

Nairobi Simba team manager Kalpesh Solanki, who represented his club, told Feverpitch they will appeal against the decision.

"We will appeal because we feel as a club we were unfairly judged, we raised concern over a player who was not eligible to play. But they (Kisumu Simba) brought in the issue of a player we signed after he was out of hockey competitions for two seasons."

Solanki added that in 2011 Zack Aura, who played for Kisumu Simba last season, was on their list and played two matches with them for that season. He then went to back play for Kenya Navy, which the club accepted as they termed it as a call of duty because Aura is a Navy officer.

Navy was disbanded later and instead of Aura going back to Nairobi Simba he signed for Kisumu Simba without official release from Nairobi.

"Kisumu Simba are not clean. This judgment should go on record to show that some rules in KHU are made to suit certain clubs," Solanki added.

Meanwhile, Greensharks are at the summit of pool A of the men's premier league table following their 2-0 victory against Parkroad. Samuel Mucheke broke the deadlock three minutes before the breather while Frank Okumu sealed the victory with his 44th minute goal.