Hurrah! Sofapaka, Muhoroni reinstated in top league

Sofapaka players celebrates their first goal Muhoroni Youth battle for ball possession during their KPL match at Ruaraka, Nairobi on Friday 21/10/16.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Sofapaka and Muhoroni Youth will take part in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after all.

In their verdict yesterday, the Sports Dispute Tribunal gave the duo a lifeline and with that, they will be part of this season’s competition.

The duo was relegated by Football Kenya Federation and Vihiga United and Kenya Commercial Bank promoted to the top tier, after they failed to meet the Caf Club Licensing threshold.

But according to yesterday’s ruling, in which STD chairman John Ohaga cited FKF Club Licensing Regulations’ manual as defective, the court ordered the two teams be reinstated.

“We have reached the conclusion that justice of the case requires that we sustain Sofapaka’s continuity in the Kenyan Premier League and we accordingly order that Sofapaka Football Club be reinstated to the Sportpesa Premier League/Kenya Premier League for the 2017 season.

“The effect of this decision is to nullify the decision of the Football Kenya Federation to promote Vihiga United FC and the KCB FC from the NSL to the Kenya Premier League for the 2017 season,” said Ohaga.

“The result of the foregoing is that we find the FKF Club Licensing Regulations as set out in the manual defective in certain material respects. We also find wanting the manner in which the Club Licensing Committee undertook its responsibility.

“Vihiga and KCB were just benefiting from a decision, but they have no entitlement to be in KPL, so they should go back to where they were,” he added.

The judgment was warmly welcomed by both Elly Kalekwa (Sofapaka) and Moses Adagala (Muhoroni Youth) chairmen.

“Justice has prevailed and we are really happy with SDT’s judgement. I feel very good and being a Christian-based club, we thank God for making this possible. We have been training knowing that God will fight for us and now we are ready to face any team starting this weekend,” said a delighted Kalekwa.

“The ruling has been fair, it was not an easy case, but SDT have used wisdom to make the judgment. The club licensing process is not bad, but football authorities shouldn’t use it to punish clubs.

“Our club has been supporting the youth and less disadvantaged in the society, so there is no way God would have let us down. I have no ill feelings with anybody, we trust in God,” said Adagala.