AFC ban in force

By Rodgers Eshitemi

NAIROBI, KENYA: AFC Leopards’ indefinite ban by the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) from using its facilities, Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani still stands, as the Kenyan Premier League giants have not yet complied with the board’s conditions.

Leopards were banned from using SSMB’s facilities following crowd trouble that led to the abandonment of their KPL Top 8 fixture against Chemelil Sugar mid last month at Nyayo, barely two months after the first hooliganism incident at Kasarani. The board further imposed a Sh300,000 fine on Leopards for the damages caused by their fans, but the according to SSMB Public Relations Officer Rakki Mannaseh Asman, the club is adamant to pay the bills.

“AFC Leopards are yet to compensate Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) on damages caused to its facilities during their two games (KPL and Top 8) with Chemelil at Kasarani and Nyayo,’’ said Asman in an interview with Feverpitch.

“At Kasarani, Leopards’ fans vandalized 70 seats and destroyed a lot of property at Nyayo. A demand letter accompanied by an invoice was sent to the club to repair the damages but they declined to pay. They’ve all the documentation from us, but they only responded to one and that’s when they’re to play against Bandari.’’

“And if you look at the letter, it clearly shows that they’re not willing to pay and they’re exonerating their fans from any wrongdoing. We had warned them earlier, if their fans engage in such incidents again we would take a more stern. And we indeed made good on our threat after the ugly scenes at Nyayo,’’ he added. Leopards are scheduled to host Gor Mahia on Sunday 12 May, in an eagerly awaited ‘high risk’ derby and to lift the ban, SSMB has urged them to meet their demands.

“We understand that the upcoming KPL derby between AFC and Gor is a high risk match and the best facility to host that match would be Kasarani. We’re more than willing to host the match, but we can’t let AFC go against our requirements. We will only allow them back to our facilities if they clear the bills.

Due to security reasons, KPL CEO Jack Oguda has written a letter to Leopards asking them to comply with SSMB’s requests so as to be allowed to host the game at Kasarani.

“Following the violence and vandalism caused by your club supporters at Kasarani on February 24 and April 17, 2013 at Nyayo National Stadium, which caused the ban on using the two facilities we urgently require your immediate action regarding the above match,’’ said Oguda.