FKF seeks CAF intervention over ‘unfair’ Esperance

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have contacted Confederation of African Football over Esperance’s unsanctioned decision to postpone their CAF Champions League return leg fixture with Gor Mahia FC by a day.

The match had been scheduled for Saturday 17 but has conspicuously been moved to Sunday with Gor getting no such notification from their Tunisian opponents or continental governing body CAF.

“It’s true there is concern about the match date; on their website, CAF says it’s on 18th but the hosts have indicated it will be on 18th. We are waiting for CAF’s response so that we can advise Gor the way forward since this is a crucial game for our representatives,” FKF Communications Director Barry Otieno told Citizen Digital.

Gor Team Manager Jolawi Abondo labelled Esperance’s decision ‘unfair’ considering the club had already made prior travel and accommodation plans.

“We have already booked a hotel to sleep, the air tickets are ready and we will be leaving on Wednesday midnight. It’s an inconvenience because in our plans we knew we’re playing on Saturday and returning the following day,” Abondo said.

Mind games are known to be played by host teams whenever they are trying to intimidate their opponents and these is not anew thing to Kenyan Football.

In 2013 during the world cup qualifier away in Nigeria the national soccer team Harambee stars was forced to train in a poor field in Kalaba and ended up to loss 3-0 against host.

The first leg played in Machakos ended 0-0 and the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions will need an outright win or a scoring draw in Tunisia in order to qualify to the group stage of the tournament.