Leopards handed walkover after Nzoia no-show

AFC Leopards will move seventh on the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings on 37 points after they were given a walkover in their round 26 clash against Nzoia Sugar.

Leopards were awarded a 2-0 victory after the presumptive Nzoia failed to show up for the match that was scheduled to be played at the Bukhungu Stadium on Wednesday.

Nzoia have claimed the league management sent a team to inspect the Mumias Sports Complex which they deemed would the match but KPL CEO Jack Oguda in a separate interview maintained Leopards will be awarded the three points.

“Mumias (Complex ground) has not been cleared. In fact the venue has not been used this season (for KPL matches). For the ground to be approved it has to go through the Governing Council and this is not the case,” explained Oguda.

He added: “Leopards will be handed the three points because the match officials who were appointed by FKF were at the venue and Nzoia knew from the onset that Bukhungu Stadium would host the match.”

Nzoia have meanwhile claimed that the KPL sent a team to inspect the viability of Mumias Sports Complex as a possible venue before duly approving it.

“KPL told us we should go to Bukhungu because they intend to broadcast the match on television but we told them we want to play here. They sent people here on Monday and they said the pitch is all good,” Nzoia Chair Yappets Mokua told Citizen Digital.

The KPL said it had changed the venue because of the expected live coverage at Bukhungu Stadium which will also stage another match pitting Kakamega Homeboyz and Tusker FC.

-Report by Godfrey Ashiali and Joseph Saasia