Chemelil turn down replay as KPL warns

By JAMES WAINDI and BOSCO MAGARE

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Chemelil Sugar risk handing champions Ulinzi Stars a walk over if they fail to honour their rescheduled match.

The Independent Disciplinary and Appeals Committee (Idac) last week ruled that Ulinzi play their two matches against Chemelil and Sofapaka that had initially been handed to their opponents as walkovers.

The clubs earned walkovers after the soldiers failed to honour the ties as they took part in the World Military Games in Brazil, but the sugar millers have been resisting to play the match saying it was unfair and against the law.

Chemelil Sugar management resolved on Wednesday not to honour a replay saying they were procedurally awarded a walkover by KPL. The club termed the decision by Idac directing them to replay Ulinzi as fundamentally flawed.

Speaking to Feverpitch after the committee meeting on Wednesday, club chairman Robert Nyakundi said the millers were procedurally awarded the walkover by KPL after dutifully travelling to Naivasha last July to honour the fixture.

"In regard to Idac’s ruling, why did the latter not invite Chemelil Sugar officials to its meeting where a ruling was made directing the miller’s to replay Ulinzi," club secretary Samuel Ndungu posed?

The club also took issue with KPL for withdrawing Chemelil Sugar’s three points against Ulinzi from the league standing without consulting the millers.

"Ironically, this is the second time KPL has withdrawn our rightfully earned walkover points from the league standing. It demonstrates inconsistency in KPL’s ability to honour and stand by league governing rules, despite being custodians of the same," Ndungu said.

On his part KPL Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda yesterday stressed that the matches must be honoured and that they were just waiting to solve some logistic issues before announcing the dates of the fixtures.

"Idac has already released a ruling and we have to go by it. We are just waiting for Chemelil to give us the costs of what they incurred by travelling to Naivasha for the match that never took off, so that Ulinzi can settle before we announce the dates.

"Sofapaka has already written to us saying they spent Sh172,000, which we hope Ulinzi will settle. After announcing the new dates, any team which will fail to honour its match will blame itself," said Oguda.

However, according to Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa, he was not aware of any budget given to KPL.

"As far as we are concerned we will not play the Ulinzi match," Kalekwa told Feverpitch on telephone yesterday.

Ulinzi would be the biggest beneficiaries if the matches are replayed and coach Benjamin Nyangweso believes that even picking a point from each of the fixture would be a huge achievement.

Picking maximum points would be surplus for Ulinzi as it would take them five points clear. At the moment, the soldiers are second in the table with 44 points, only a single point adrift of leaders Tusker before yesterday’s ties.

"I have always said any team should not be helped to win the league, but win it deservedly. I believe the decision to allow us honour our two matches was very fair and we are focused on the matches.

"We will be happy with even two points from the two matches, because this season a point is very crucial in any team’s campaign, but our aim is to win the matches," said Nyangweso who was voted coach of the year last season.

Meanwhile, reigning Cup champions Sofapaka romped into the semi-finals of this year’s competition with a 2-1 win over Natiowide side Kenya Revenue Authority at the City Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Humprey Mieno scored the winnerin the 85th minute.