Posta Rangers slam FKF for GOtv Shield disqualification

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Posta Rangers have slammed Football Kenya Federation for disqualifying them from the GOtv Shield for fielding an ineligible player.

Rangers paraded their new signing, John Nairuka, who notched a double as they seemingly cruised to the Round of 32 with an emphatic 4-1 Timsales FC of the lower division.

Their joy was cut short on Monday when the federation pulled the plug on their participation over Nairuka saying he was not registered to play by the governing body.

“The Match Commissioner did inspection and scrutinized Nairuka’s playing card and gave him the go ahead to play the match,” Posta chairman, John Tanui said of the fixture played at Kericho Green Stadium.

“The registration was done by KPL and then we sent the data to FKF so we don’t understand why these wrangles between the two parties are affecting our club.

“We transferred a player to AFC Leopards last week and he played on Friday and we have not heard the club being penalized,” the team boss complained.

Nairuka was signed during the mid season transfer window from Ulinzi Stars.

When reached for comment, club coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno said he could not discuss anything concerning the issue until he received formal communication from the federation.

Nairuka and former Chemelil Sugar winger Gearson Likonoh scored a brace each to condemn the Kericho-based side to the loss.

FKF announced the decision in line with its new guidelines on player transfers and registration as required by Fifa that came into force on June 1 this year.

“Federation (FKF) has with immediate effect disqualified Posta Rangers FC in the ongoing GOTV Shield tournament for fielding an ineligible player in their round of 64 match against Timsales.

“The move is in line with FKF’s new guidelines on player transfers and registrations that came into force on June 1, 2016,” the federation said in a statement.

Posta is the first club to be affected by the new rules that has seen the federation centralise all player transfers and registration as required by FIFA.

Report by Eric Kagunda