Kisumu doubtful for bankers trip

By BS MULAVI

KISUMU, KENYA: Cracks have emerged in the Kenya Cup, with Kisumu RFC threatening to not take part in their away fixtures.

Speaking to our sister publication Game Yetu before the weekend, Kisumu RFC Chairman Paul Okong’o claimed they do not see the need of honouring the remaining away fixtures given that they have already missed two crucial matches for them.

The side was unable to travel for their away games against Eldoret and Mombasa due to lack of funds to travel for the fixtures.

Okong’o has placed the blame on the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) for failing to honour their pledges to assist Kisumu to travel for the matches.

“It was agreed even before the season started, that regional sides will be given transport funds, to help them get to fixtures away from home, however as it stands the Union did not release the funds for the above two matches and this has had quite a huge ramification for us,” he said.

Okong’o feels his team should have beaten Mombasa and Eldoret and their season would have taken a better direction.

Okong’o added the morale of the team has been affected as they feel they will not get a fair chance of contending for the title.

“We will use this break to assess ourselves and decide if we will continue taking part in the league or otherwise, if we will not be given funds,” he said.

Kisumu was scheduled to play Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) today at the Ruaraka grounds, but Okongo said they have not intention of availing themseves for the fixture.

Meanwhile, in the other only fixture of the day, former champions Kenya Harlequin host a limping Impala side at the RFUEA grounds.

Both sides hope to bounce back from defeats of last weekend.

Speaking after their loss to KCB, Quins head coach Enos Otieno said, “We did not play well our match against KCB, thus will not make the same mistake tomorrow, we plan to attack from the start to the end.”

Otieno knows they cannot afford to lose again if they are to be viewed as serious contenders for the top honours.

Impala on the other end are hoping their injury woes will not weigh them down.

“We have eight senior players out with injury, but that does not necessarily mean we can’t play well, we will still field our charges, whom we expect to beat the former champions at home,” said Impala assistant coach Nick Abok.

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