Matches resume after disputed poll case heads to Supreme Court

Sofapaka’s Paul Odhiambo (left) challenges AFC Leopards Whyvonne Isuza on April 26. [Stafford Ondego/SportPicha.co.ke]

After two weeks of uncertainty, football action returns this weekend with the GOtv shield taking centre stage.

The tournament enters quarter-final stage this weekend and will be live on GOtv.

This will be the first time since March that the South African pay television company is showing live football action after they terminated their contract with the Kenyan Premier League citing breach of contract.

Eldoret Youth takes on Kariobangi Sharks while Bandari tackles Sony Sugar in Saturday matches to be played at Nyayo Stadium. On Sunday, champions Tusker tackle Vihiga United while AFC Leopards take on Wazito.

Apart from the GOtv there are also five Kenyan Premier League matches. But even as football action returns to the pitch, trouble has hit Chemelil Sugar after a number of their players failed to report for training putting at risk their match against Posta Rangers.

The sugar company has not paid its players for the last four months due to financial challengers and the players have apparently had enough.

Several players, who spoke to Standard Sports on condition that they are not named revealed that they had not been paid for the last four months and will not honour the weekend fixture.

“It’s a sad scenario, we have gone for four months without pay. We have families to take care of, and bills to pay, I doubt any of the players will return to honour that match,” said one of the players.

Another player asked, “If we were to honour the game, by now would be in camp training or at our homes? We would be training in readiness for the game. The game will be on Saturday, when do you expect us to train and be ready for the game if we are not in camp now?”

Club chairman Robert Nyakundi, however, downplayed fears of a strike in the camp saying the players had gone to vote.

“We released the players to go and exercise their right as citizens of Kenyans to vote for their candidates. They will be coming back in time for the weekend game, that strike issue is new to me and I have only heard it from you,” Nyakundi said.

Nyakundi said they expect the players to return for training yesterday and have two sessions before their match against Rangers.

A number of KPL clubs are beginning to feel the pinch after SuperSport pulled out as broadcast partners of the league. The move has cut by half, monthly grants that clubs were receiving from KPL.