Kericho targets KPL: Zoo strike Vegpro, will contest Shabana's climb to top league

Fans of Zoo FC of Kericho protest against the decision to deduct points from the club and award the same to Shabana FC in Kericho streets yesterday.

Kericho Zoo are hopeful that they will be given a slot in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after their appeal against Agro Chemical is heard and determined.

With Shabana already promoted, Kericho Zoo's hopes are all but hanging by a thread pending the outcome of their appeal. They completed their Football Kenya Federation National Super League fixtures with a 1-0 win over Vegpro at Longonot Horticulture grounds in Naivasha over the weekend.

The win leaves them second behind Shabana, but should the appeal go their way, Kericho Zoo will leapfrog the Kisii based side to lead the Western National Super League log.

Oscar Omwami scored the all-important goal in the 89th minute to send hundreds of fans, ferried from Kericho in six buses, into celebration. The referee had to stop the match for a few minutes.

Omwami had rifled a powerful drive past Vegpro custodian after being put through by Michael Mudoya.

 

League standings

As a result, Kericho Zoo have completed their fixtures with 47 points from 21 matches. They will now await the outcome of an appeal they have lodged with FKF and the Independent Disciplinary and Appeals Committee (IDAC) against Agro Chemical FC.

Shabana, who edged Finlays Horticulture 2-0 to finish their fixtures with 49 points from 22 matches, will delay their celebration for promotion to the KPL temporarily until the case is heard and determined.

Speaking to reporters at Longonot Horticulture grounds in Naivasha, Kericho Governor Professor Paul Chepkwony appealed for a fair judgment.

He said he will continue supporting the team and revealed the intended refurbishing of Kericho Green Stadium for top-flight matches will come soon.

 

Big fortune

“We have set aside Sh50 million to jump-start the process,” he said.

Kericho Zoo Team Manager Ibrahim Muganda confirmed having launched and paid  the appeal fee of Sh25,000 to FKF in a bid to overturn the decision to award Agro Chemical three points and two goals.

“Shabana cannot be declared league winners until our appeal is heard and settled,” stated Muganda.

Agro Chemical had successfully filed a protest against Kericho Zoo alleging they had fielded an ineligible player in defender Michael Otieno in a league match, which ended in favour of Kericho Zoo, who won it by a solitary goal.

According to Muganda, Otieno had only accumulated two yellow cards when they played Agro Chemical and was therefore eligible for the match.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no case against Agro Chemical and it is up to the federation to prove us wrong,” said Muganda.

Efforts to get a comment from FKF Chief Executive Officer Michael Esakwa were fruitless as our calls went unanswered.

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