Bukembe's National School Games appearance in limbo
What you need to know:
- If found guilty, Bukembe will be disqualified from taking part in the nationals and face a potential two-year ban.
- Bukembe coach David Kalamu has however denied any wrong doing calling on the officials to dismiss the case.
- St Anthony's coach Moses Kidengwa is hopeful KSSSA will rule in their favour and allow them to represent the region at the nationals.
- Earlier this year, KSSSA lifted bans on all disqualified schools.
Nzoia Region football champions Bukembe Secondary School will on Thursday find out if they have been disqualified from the National Secondary Schools Term Two B Games set for Kisumu next week for allegedly fielding ineligible players at the regional level.
The Bungoma-based school defeated St Anthony’s Boys Kitale 2-1 in the Nzoia Region boys' final at the Kawalesa Primary School, Lodwar on July 15 to book their maiden national games ticket.
However, St Anthony’s lodged a complaint with the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) on Monday evening claiming that Bukembe fielded overage players in the final.
KSSSA deputy Secretary General Robert Mukhwana confirmed receiving the appeal and revealed that the matter is been handled by the County Director of Education (CDE) and Quality and Assurance Standards officials from the Ministry of Education.
“According to St Anthony’s appeal, Bukembe fielded players born in 1995 and that is contrary to our rules which state that players taking part in these games should be born on or after September 1, 1996,” Mukhwana told Daily Nation Sport on phone.
“This matter will be concluded tomorrow (Thursday) after all evidence has been looked at because teams heading to the nationals should be in Kisumu by Sunday evening,” Mukhwana, who is also the Nzoia Region Secretary General, added.
If found guilty, Bukembe will be disqualified from taking part in the nationals and face a potential two-year ban.
Bukembe coach David Kalamu has however denied any wrong doing calling on the officials to dismiss the case.
“We beat them fair and square. Why did they wait for this long to bring the matter up? This is unfair and we hope the officials will clear us of any wrong doing in this matter,” Kalamu said on phone on Thursday.
St Anthony's coach Moses Kidengwa is hopeful KSSSA will rule in their favour and allow them to represent the region at the nationals.
Last year, the “Solidarity Boys” also appealed to KSSSA after rivals Kakamega High School had been awarded the botched regional final which was marred by violence. KSSSA ordered a replay of the match in Machakos on the eve of last year’s national games.
St Anthony’s beat Kakamega 1-0 in the replay but were later disqualified in the semi-final stage of the national games after they were found guilty of fielding overage players during the replay against their rivals.
Earlier this year, KSSSA lifted bans on all disqualified schools.
