Free points for Leopards ? Sony a no-show for league match

Hosts Sony Sugar failed to honour their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match against AFC Leopards on Saturday afternoon at the Awendo Green Stadium, casting a darker shadow over the broke side.

Let alone boycotting the match, the hosts locked the doors for the visitors whose officials were at the stadium by 9:30am, further complicating the report to be sent KPL.

Ironically, Citizen Digital has learnt Sony management instructed the players to snub the match to send a signal to the sponsor, who is reported to have failed to honour his contractual obligations.

“I advised them to let the players honour the match, especially being a home match. I couldn’t understand their reasoning on this. This chases the sponsor instead,” intimated a source within Sony on condition of anonymity.

He further revealed KPL Chief Executive Officer was aware Sony wanted to keep off the match as early as Friday, but his advise was not heeded to

“He (Oguda) even called advising us to play as they prepare to announce the next move following the exit of the league sponsor,  but some people in the management insisted we protest. Had they allowed the players, they would have honoured it,” the official told.

A Hong Kong based IT firm Quantdragon Limited signed as the club’s official sponsor before the current season kickoff, and was thought to have bailed out Sony from financial constraints that rocked them in the 2018/2019 season.

However, the smile has faded away too soon, as the sponsor is said to be quiet as the players go without pay.

Leopards assistant  coach Anthony Kimani expressed disappointment with the hosts, saying the reaction should have been better.

“We have not been told exactly why they couldn’t honour the match. It’s funny that even the stadium gates are shut. We know how difficult it is with all clubs in the KPL when it comes to money but when a team has come all the way from Nairobi, the only satisfaction is to play for what you have prepared for.

“We were ready to continue our smooth run. We will now return to Nairobi, give players a short break as we have no match in the coming weekend. We will then resume ahead of the Western Stima clash,” offered Kimani.

Leopards have won two, drawn one and lost one to ganner seven points, and will wait for the official communication by KPL regarding the walk-over from Awendo.

On the other hand, Sony have won only one and lost three, the impending  walkover to Leopards further leaving them at three points.

Match commissioner Moses Osano, who was in charge  of the match also said he was not aware why the club failed to show up.