Nakumatt players stranded after KPL ban
Nakumatt players were on Friday stranded in Kisumu after the Kenya Premier League Limited announced the club’s suspension from the SportPesa Premier League in compliance with a court order.
The indefinite suspension takes place with immediate effect, and also affects another league side Zoo Kericho.
Having played against Muhoroni Youth at the Muhoroni grounds on Wednesday, the Nairobi based Nakumatt’s management had opted for a cost-cutting measure to let the team camp in the lakeside city for a few days in the run up to Sunday’s league assignment against Western Stima at the Moi stadium.
That match has now been called off, as is Zoo Kericho’s contest against Nzoia United.
DEVASTATED
“We are committed to respecting the Rule of Law and the decision to suspend the two clubs has been arrived at following the review of article 28(d) of the ruling received,” KPL’s statement read in part.
“I just don’t know what to do now. It’s a crisis,” Nakumatt CEO Albert Wesonga said reaction to the statement.
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“I have never seen such a thing in my life,” Zoo coach Sammy Okoth, an ex-international, lamented.
“As a result (of the ruling) we have 100 people, including 60 players, who are now jobless just like that, yet we have worked very hard since January (the start of the league season). We are all very devastated.”
COURT RULING
In a ruling delivered on Thursday High Court judge Justice John Mativo ordered for the the top-flight football competition to be reverted to its original format of 16 clubs as well as nullifying club licensing rules introduced recently.
He made that ruling after hearing a case filed by former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya who challenged the composition of the league in March.
Nakumatt and Zoo Kericho are currently placed 12th and 13th in the latest 18-team league standings after 25 rounds of matches.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa has meanwhile indicated that his office will appeal against this decision.