Homeboyz blame FKF inaction for FIFA player bans

Homeboyz blame FKF inaction for FIFA player bans

Kakamega Homeboyz President Cleophas ‘Toto’ Shimanyula says Football Kenya Federation (FKF) must share the blame for the four-year bans meted out by FIFA on four former players of the club over match fixing.

Shimanyula famously blew the whistle on match-fixing at the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) outfit, accusing own players and former coach Paul Nkata for orchestrating the vice. Nkata later fled the country to his native Uganda.

And on Tuesday, FIFA announced lengthy bans for Moses Chikati, Festus Okiring, Festo Omoto and Ugandan George Mandela who was handed a lifetime ban from all football related activities.

“I blame FKF President Nick Mwendwa who openly said that possibly I’m insane insisting that there is no match fixing in Kenyan league. The Kenyan federation has failed and there is too much corruption in our football,” Shimanyula said.

The ban comes after months of intense investigation, probing and under cover intelligence by FIFA representatives which has led to the determination.

Shimanyula made sacked Nkata in January last year after accusing him and the players for fixing matches against Sony Sugar and Mathare United where they lost both matches with defender Moses Chikati scoring an own goal in the Sony Sugar match which left them in 13th position after winning only two in nine matches.

“I have seen a lot and I did intensive investigation which has been confirmed by FIFA after their own intestigation.

They have not banned coach (Paul Nkata) and those who worked under him. They (FIFA) have said that the probe is still going own and I want to assure you that we are going to see more.

“Kenya has a lot of problems and I can assure you that many clubs about six to seven which are in this game (Match fixing) and I don’t want to name any club because they will sue me,” Shimanyula added.

Some of the Homeboyz players were reportedly be paid around Ksh 250,000 each to manipulate results which Shimanyula says he swiftly moved to bring this to an end.

“If you remember very well last year, our team could just let in goals in an awkward manner but now you can attest to the fact that my team is better and reaping from the move I took”.

According to Homeboyz head coach Nicolas Muyoti, every one who is found guilty should be punished accordingly.

“Match fixing is not good especially for the fans and the management plus team mates.

It is something that we really must confront and punish the culprits”, he said.

Muyoti was appointed thanks to the sacking of Paul Nkata over the match fixing claims last year.

Festus Okiring and Festo Omoto moved elsewhere after their contracts came to an end last month with Okiring joining forces while Omoto joining Western Stima.

Tags:

FKF FIFA Kakamega Homeboyz KPL Match-fixing

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