KPL: Playing mind games? as Leopards, Sofapaka differ over Mumias match venue

Elly Kalekwa

The Saturday's Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash between AFC Leopards and Sofapaka at Mumias Sports Complex remains in doubt.

AFC Leopards have insisted on playing at  Mumias Sports Complex even as Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa insisted that his team will not travel to Mumias due to safety concerns.

Reacting to a ruling by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) that the match be played in a neutral venue, Leopards' Secretary General George Aladwa said all arrangements have been made for the match in Mumias.

"We have known all along that this match will be played in Mumias. It is our home fixture and we need to enjoy the advantage which comes with that. As a club we don't have any problem with Sofapaka.

"The violence witnessed after our GOtv shield match against them was a protest against match referee Davies Omweno and so they should just turn up at Mumias," said Aladwa.

He claimed that moving the match is a move aimed at giving Sofapaka an undue advantage in the  KPL title chase.

"We played them at Machakos Stadium in the first leg match and they should also come to Mumias. The federation cannot change the venue just like that. Being our match we have to decide where it is played."

But Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa was categorical that they will not travel to Mumias over 'security fears'.

"The last time we played AFC Leopards violence broke out against our team and we fear that though the match will be played in an empty stadium, there is still a risk that we may be attacked.

"Leopards should look for a venue in Nairobi and host the match otherwise we do not intend to travel to Mumias even at the risk of losing three points," said Kalekwa.

The federation asked KPL on Tuesday to have the match played in a neutral venue with reports that Sofapaka favour either Kasarani or Nakuru.

KPL Chief Executive Jack Oguda was not available for a comment on the matter as he did not pick his call.
Elsewhere, FKF executive member for Coast Mohammed Omar has defended the decision to award Muhoroni Youth an abandoned match against Tusker.
Omar said Tusker had fielded an ineligible player and according to Fifa rules such a match should not have even been allowed to go on in the first place.

"The rule that Tusker quotes saying it excuses them applies to a situation where a team is making substitutions but in this case we are talking about a team having 12 players on the pitch.

"The 12th player was an intruder. He forced himself on the ground and for that Tusker were duly punished," said Omar who is an accomplished CAF match commissioner.

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