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The Nairobian

Kenyan Premier League: Sony read foul play in suspension of AFC match

Football

By STANLEY ONGWAE | Oct 16, 2014

Sony Sugar FC Chairman Paul Orata while addressing the media at Awendo on Tuesday 14 2014. The club's top management protested the indefinite suspension of the match between the club and AFC Leoprads by FKF. PHOTO: STANLEY ONGWAE

The indefinite postponement of the rescheduled Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match between AFC Leopards and Sony Sugar FC, which was planned for today, has drawn sharp reactions from the Awendo-based team.

This has come as the country's four football administration bodies: the Independent Disputes and Complaints Committee (IDCC), the Sports Stadia and Security Committee (SSSC), Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and KPL gave conflicting verdicts on the same.

SSSC had cleared Awendo Green Stadium to host home matches while the IDCC had ruled that the match in question be played in Awendo today.

However, FKF and KPL on Tuesday postponed the match indefinitely until Leopards' appeal is reviewed.

The controversy surrounding the decision to stop the match has seen top Sony FC officials allege there was a boardroom game. Sony alleged there was a plot to favour AFC Leopards and award Ingwe three points after Sony failed to travel to Afraha Stadium, Nakuru to honour their fixture in August.

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Led by the club's chairman Paul Orato, the club officials accused FKF of being partisan. The officials said FKF officials, who announced the decision to put the match off until further notice, were biased.

Orato said FKF was not being realistic by claiming that the match between the two clubs was marred by controversies from the time it was announced that Awendo stadium could not host any KPL match between either AFC or Gor Mahia due to safety concerns.

"We are determined to make sure the decision by FKF is overturned for good and all the banned matches played here in Awendo, some officials want to play boardroom games to defeat the rules of fair play in Kenyan football," said Orato.

The club secretary Bob Akoko challenged FKF to prove that SSSC was acting illegally after they cleared the Awendo pitch.

The officials further said the decision by FKF to take the match to Afraha was out of order since they had an alternative home ground.