AFC Leopards stewards to get clearance

AFC Leopards fans throw objects onto the pitch in a past league match. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • League giants Gor, Leopards renew efforts to stamp out hooliganism
  • In the last month, Ingwe and K’Ogalo have both received negative publicity because of hooliganism.

AFC Leopards stewards have been given 30 days to produce certificates of good conduct in a fresh bid to curb hooliganism in football.

Ingwe’s co-chairman Dan Mule on Wednesday told Daily Nation Sport that a 30-member committee has been formed to deal with fan trouble.

This follows a series of meetings between club officials and sponsors SportPesa. The latest meeting was held Wednesday morning in Nairobi.

“We have discussed a number of critical issues and we plan to address the Press jointly on Friday. SportPesa has indicated that we shall have our grant for this month on the same day.

“As a club, we promise to tackle hooliganism head-on. Our stewards have a month to produce their certificates of good conduct. We have also constituted a 30-member committee from all our branches to deal with hooligans especially in the Russia stand,” said Mule.

Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia, who have also landed in trouble because of fan trouble, are also strategising on how to curb the vice.

In the last month, Ingwe and K’Ogalo have both received negative publicity because of hooliganism.

A match between Gor and Tusker on April 16 was stopped for more than 10 minutes as fans violently protested a penalty awarded by assistant referee George Mwangi.

Seven days later, Ingwe fans caused the abandonment of their match against Ulinzi Stars after the soldiers were awarded a late penalty when the teams were tied at 1-1. Fans attacked match officials in both incidents. 

KPL disciplinary committee awarded Ulinzi three points and two goals but is yet to rule on the Gor case. Consequently, league sponsors SportPesa suspended the Gor and AFC’s financial support.

Gor assistant captain Musa Mohammed lamented that the perpetrators are known but are never punished. Football Kenya Federation CEO Robert Muthomi said they would institute stiff penalties fight hooliganism.

“The people who do these things are known. They are a small minority and sometimes their faces are shown by you people (the media) yet nothing is ever done to them," Mohammed said.

“This few individuals usually end up giving the whole club a bad name out there. I think they (FKF) should come up with punitive measures against these people because most times they threaten players and turn against match officials.”