Vihiga, Eastleigh decry relegation from Division Two

Vihiga, Eastleigh decry relegation from Division Two

Vihiga All Stars and Eastleigh Youth FC who were axed from the FKF National Division Two by Football Kenya Federation are the latest examples of how teams in the lower tiers are struggling to honour their obligations.

On Tuesday, the federation announced they would be relegated from the 20-team competition adding to West Kenya Sugar who were expelled from the National Super League after handing three successive walkovers last month.

A Sports Tribunal ruling re-instated Shabana FC to the second-tier meaning the 20-team threshold was maintained but the former top-flight giants are going through lean times, a state of affairs affecting most domestic clubs across all divisions.

“Yes, the two were suspended then relegated. That in simple terms means, neither of the two shall take part in this year’s division two game until next year. Come next season, that league shall have extra two teams,” FKF Communications Director, Barry Otieno explained on Wednesday.

Vihiga have laid blame to local leaders for failing to honour their plea of supporting the team to meet its financial obligations.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, team manager Donald Mudaki has expressed grief over FKF’s decision to relegate them.

“My boys are totally demoralized. We received the devastating news on Monday from FKF and this caught us unaware. You see, like for example our game against Isibania, some leaders had promised and pledged to assist us so that we could honour that match, but come on the material day, they went off without reach,”  Mudaki lamented.

“We have planned for a meeting with players to deliberate on the way forward. We are to agree on what’s next-because, even the division two league we have been relegated to, still needs funds to run, which we still don’t have. Our players have started showing signs of giving up hence majority of the missing to show up in our yesterday’s {Tuesday} training,” he added.

Eastleigh’s Team Manager Zephaniah Malit, says he was perplexed by the sudden demotion even after writing an email to explain why they were unable to honour their match against Magarini Stars.

“I personally wrote an email to FKF. I told them, my team was unable to play the said game, due to two funerals that my players were to attend. Evans Oduor, one of us had lost his mother. Unfortunately the emails reached FKF late after the match had been given a walk over,” Malit told.

“Our second game against Galana High had issues with security and our third we missed because we could not find an available pitch to host our visitors,” the official expressed.

Vihiga missed to honour games against Isibania FC, Timsales FC and Silibwet FC whilst Eastleigh Youth handed walkovers to Magarini, Stima Club and Galana.

-Possessed by demons-

Elsewhere, drama continues to engulf fourth tier when a goalkeeper was allegedly ‘possessed by demons’ as he was tending his goal in Mombasa.

The incident occurred at Kombani Ground during the game between Supa Matuga and visiting Kilifi All Stars where the home side won 2-0 in the FKF Division Two Northern Zone clash.

The event unfolded in the second half when Omar Jicho saved All Stars from Omar Mangwe’s shoot and immediately collapsing on the ground and medical first aid could not stop his fit until prayers from Islamic believers were offered for the keeper to regain consciousness after three hours of intense intercession.

Tags:

Football Kenya Federation Barry Otieno football relegation Eastleigh Youth FKF Nationwide Division Two Vihiga All Stars

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