Kaya Tiwi and Shimo La Tewa have been disqualified from taking part in next week’s national secondary school games in Kangaru School, Embu.
The two schools were disqualified for fielding ineligible players during the Coast Region boys’ basketball final last month.
As a result, Aga Khan Academy, who finished third, will now represent Coast Region in the national games.
According to Coast Secondary Schools Association secretary, Omar Munga, the two schools fielded over-age players during their final and the decision to disqualify them was taken to deter others from taking that route.
“Kaya Tiwi fielded a player born in 1996, thus making him 22 years and ineligible to participate in the school games. This is an under-19 championships.
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“However, they are free to appeal against the sentence,” he said.
As for Shimo La Tewa, Munga said the school fielded two players, whose age could not be verified after they used different birth certificates to register.
“One player said he sat his KCPE exams in 2015 but got his birth certificate one year later, yet he could not prove how he was allowed to do the exams without the document.
“Another player could not be found in the school’s admission book and Shimo La Tewa said that could have been a typing error.
“But the explanation does not make sense and clearly there is something fishy here and for that reason, they have also been disqualified,” said Munga.
Munga said no further action has been taken against Shimo La Tewa for now. Surprisingly, Kaya Tiwi said they are not aware of the ban with Principal Robert Aran insisting they are preparing to travel to Kangaru.
“This is new to me. I am not aware of the ban. We are in school now preparing to travel to Embu for the games. There is a lot of malice around all these issues,” he said.
Aga Khan Academy coach David Kimani said they are looking forward to take part in the championships despite having a short notice to prepare.
“It is a great opportunity for us to take part in the games. We were given a short notice but are working hard to ensure we are ready for the games.”
