Sports suspension unfair, says KCB coach Zico

KCB FC head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno has condemned the suspension of sporting activities in the country, saying it was a slap in the face of an industry that was strictly adhering to set COVID-19 regulations.

Barely any positive cases were reported during pre-match tests conducted weekly by federations and Zico says the move to suspend competitive leagues came as a shock for sports stakeholders.

‘’We resumed the league very well and were abiding by the Ministry of Health’s containment measures. All players were tested and we kept sanitizing alongside other measures. Halting sports at this time is quite unfair to people in sports,’’ Zico said.

Zico says after staying out of action for almost a year when the first wave of Covid-19, it would have been fair to allow Sportsmen to continue playing while adhering to the containment measures.

The veteran tactician added the national team preparing for the Qatar World Cup qualifiers could be in jeopardy if the players will not be allowed to train even as they are dimmed to face neighbors Uganda Cranes in June in their first assignment in Nairobi.

“Players are likely to lose morale and fitness. I think the Government needs to consider resumption of sports as long as the set restrictions are adhered to.

“Most clubs don’t have money. They have been struggling to pay their players. They have now been plunged into another dilemma of whether or not to pay at this time of no play,’’ he added.

Last week on Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the suspension of all sporting activities until further notice as he announced a raft of tightened COVID-19 regulations meant to help contain a third wave of infections.

On Thursday, Mr Kenyatta said the measures announced were indefinite and could be reviewed even in less than a month should the positivity rate drop below five percent.

National team coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee is among tacticians who have called for the review of the slap on sporting activities in the country imposed by the Government last week.