By James Waindi

Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) has called for an emergency council meeting tomorrow to deliberate on the fate of the two suspended golfers.

Speaking to FeverPitch yesterday, KLGU chairperson, Sheila Mauladad, said they wanted to find an amicable solution during the emergency meeting.

The union suspended internationals Rachael Koigi and Sophie Njenga on June 22 for misconduct.

However, the two appealed to the Ministry of sports and Joint Honorary Secretaries over the decision. "I would prefer to comment about the whole issue after we hold our emergency meeting on Friday afternoon. We talked to the Secretary of Sports Wilson Lang’at who referred the issue to the Kenya National Sports Council for arbitration," said Mauladad.

Suspended Sophie Njenga (second right) with members of the national team. Njenga and Rachael Koigi have been suspended by the Kenya Ladies Golf Union for misconduct. [PHOTO: FILE]

Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch confirmed he had received the appeal letter and directed the KLGU to seek dialogue with the players and find a solution to the issue.

We have received the appeal from the two suspended golfers and we are waiting for response from the Minister Helen Sambili.

"The golfers were suspended after pushing for Kenya’s participation in the Gilbertson and Page triangular event held after every two years. It brings together participants from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

"I think certain KLGU officials were not happy with the way the two went about the issue, but I believe this is a simple matter that could have been ironed out swiftly by the union through dialogue," said Oluoch.

Koigi and Njenga said they had not been accorded an opportunity to be heard as the agenda of the meeting that suspended them was set by the convener "to discuss and agree a way forward which will be in the best interest of ladies golf in Kenya and ensure continuation of KLGU participation in the G&P.

No Powers

"The meeting on June 22 was not constituted by the Executive Council. Section VI-5 of the KLGU Constitution and Rules sets the quorum of any meeting of the Executive Council as six. Only three of the members were present at the meeting and thus had no powers under the Constitution and Rules to conduct disciplinary proceedings or order suspension," said the two in a joint statement.

They noted that no written or oral complaint or charges had been presented to them by KLGU.