Shabana FC suspect foul play in Super League case

Former local football top flight giants, Gusii based Shabana FC are suspecting foul play after the ruling in a case they brought to the Sports Tribunal questioning their exclusion from the second-tier National Super League was once again deferred to April 19.

The club which ranks as the third most-supported side after Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in the country are worried the postponements in the ruling is designed to ensure they cannot participate in the competition that will play its fifth round this weekend.

The much-awaited ruling will now be delivered on April 19 according to Tribunal chairman, John Ohaga.

Ohaga did not give the ruling on Wednesday as expected because he wanted to cross-examine the completion manager Samson Jerop, to know exactly why the Gusii based side was dropped from the league.

According to evidence tabled by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) lawyer Patricia Mitei, the former top flight side did not honours four matches in the now defunct FKF Premier League that was the recognised second-tier championship last season that bars them from the league this season as per the rules of competition.

She further argued the fallen giants never showed any goodwill of competing in the league last season as per FKF rules.

Wahome Njagi representing the Gusii based side, strongly denied those allegations saying that, the team is financially stable and can compete in the league effectively.

He expressed shock that the federation “Is dropping a well managed team, a team honoured  34 out of 36 matches played last season despite lacking funds.”

In the case of their disputed match against St. Joseph Njagi blamed FKF for changing the kick-off from 3pm to 10am meaning Shabana could not arrive there in time.

He further wanted to know why teams like St. Joseph who missed four matches, Zoo Kericho who missed three, Ligi Ndogo, and Kariobangi Sharks who are owned by FKF President, Nick Mwendwa who missed two apiece are still in the competition.

“It’s unfair for the team to be left out and to be victimized for nothing,” the defence lawyer said.

Kenya’s representatives to the CAF Africa Champions of Champions Cup in 1988, a competition they qualified after finishing runners-up in the league, were pushed out of the NSL according to the MOU that was signed by clubs and binding them in 2015.

Njagi is optimistic that the team has the financial power to sail back in the league.

Ohaga and his team wanted to know the criteria used to

promote two teams to the league and if Shabana are given reprieve to compete, which team will be dropped from the 20-side second tier.

“I believe there is bad blood between the former FKF regime and the current one, which is costing us,” Shabana official Peter Omwando claimed.

The team was said to enjoy huge patronage under Mwendwa’s predecessor, Sam Nyamweya who promoted them to the SportPesa Premier League last season after being awarded nine boardroom points.

Nyamweya wanted the top-flight to feature 18 teams in a proposal that was furiously rejected by the Kenyan Premier League who stuck with 16. He then formed the parallel FKF-PL that was declared the second tier when world body FIFA brokered a truce in the impasse that saw the SPL suspended for two weeks via a court injuction.

“Given an opportunity, we can do wonders in the league,” Omwando added.

Report by By Charles Onsakia