AFC: We were not consulted
courtesy of michezoafrika.com
AFC Leopards has come out to clearly explain reasons why they decided to announce that they will not honour this weekend’s KPL Top 8 fixture against Gor Mahia claiming KPL and the league organizers did not consult them before fixing the date for the match.
This comes just hours after KPL held a pre match stakeholders meeting at Kasarani on Wednesday where AFC Leopards was not represented.
In a detailed statement released by AFC Leopards secretary General Winston Kituyi, AFC Leopards say: “We raised some issues which have yet to be addressed by KPL. For starters, the Executive Committee of the club was not consulted before the match was fixed for 29th July 2012 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.”
“We (Leopards) wrote a letter to KPL on 24th July 2012 and requested for the deferment of the match. The technical bench of the team had already requested the deferment of the match and we were surprised that the CEO of the KPL was quoted as turning down the deferment without reference to the club.”
“It would have been prudent for KPL to consult the club on its position to honour the match and furnish the club with other important details such as the rules of this tournament and all other pertinent information to enable the clubs EC to make an informed decision. The consultation we believe is one that can take place in one day at a round table featuring our opponents Gor, KPL and ourselves. Surely that is not much to ask for. It is quite simple: We want to play Gor Mahia FC at a convenient date and not hurried circumstances that arouse suspicion.” The statement continues to say.
“Media reports indicated that the security personnel for the match had already been appointed; ticketing agents appointed; prices for match tickets fixed and so on yet Leopards had not been addressed on these issues. Instead, the KPL CEO indicated that this could be addressed at the pre-event meeting on 25th July 2012.”
AFC Leopards officials did not attend the pre match meeting held at Kasarani on Wednesday and when asked whether AFC had received communication on the match and the said meeting, KPL CEO Jack Oguda said the same AFC Leopards had written a letter a week ago requesting for advance payment ahead of the match.
“Last evening (Tuesday) we received a letter from AFC Leopards informing us that they will not honor the match because they were not aware about the change of dates. But a week earlier they had also written to us requesting to know about advance payment ahead of the tournament and for them to say they did not know anything about the match is a contradiction.The game is beautiful and should remain beautiful so AFC should honour the match and avoid bringing the game into disrepute.” Oguda said on Wednesday.
The CEO went ahead to explain that according to rules and regulations set up by all clubs including AFC, the tournament is meant to enhance competition besides the main league. He said KPL funds all Nairobi clubs with 100,000 shillings to facilitate logistics while they facilitate transport (air) and accommodation for all teams from outside Nairobi as well as pay allowances for all players and officials of participating teams.
But AFC in the statement continued to say that, “We as a club have the greatest respect for KPL. In fact, our Chairman is a Director of the Kenyan Premier League Limited. We do not value money and have always taken part in tournaments to play for our pride. Whatever cash incentives may come out of the participation is a mere bonus to us. That is why we have been playing in the FKF Cup or Presidents Cup even when we know we may be spending money that we don’t get back.” The statement read in part.
Kwani it’s politics of one principal not consulting the other? Will games be played at AFC’s convinience? One muniute it’s money the other minute it’s another ecxuse. Premier league continued when AFC was playing in the lower division and i’m sure with or without them footbal will still be played. The best thing is to move on and leave AFC with their confusion. GM, FKF and KPL should not be dragged into it. We should officially be allowed to meet Tusker for the semi on that day since life has to continue
AFC tumechoka na nyinyi sasa .i agree na with Dan let us play Tusker coz still we are going to play tusker kwa semis.pesa pesa .downpayment kwanza wht i dnt understand is gor wamepewa hizo doo bado .but we are not afta money we are ready to beat u AFC ROUNDI HII KUBYA TUMESIJA .
Sisi kama sirkal tuko ready kucheza na AFC,if AFC doesn’t want to play with us then we should be given direct ticket to semi final because we are tired of mind games every time.
Why does AFC want advance payments? why are they living beyond their means where a player has to be given 10k after every match and boarding a plane for local matches? Does consulting AFC mean hiring a plane to take them to Kasarani or giving them advance of the 1Million for the winner? I presume these timetables are normally arranged prior and even in the case for the KPL timetable are AFC normally being consulted before it’s out. We are tired of these excuses; if AFC doesn’t want to play GM fearing humiliation then let us move on and play Tusker in semis as suggested by Dan, JAHKOREMO & Odhis Kevin (1,2 & 3 respectively).
Will AFC be paid in advance now that they have registered for FKF cup. If FKF know what’s good for them they better refund AFC the 15K for registration before they mess that tournament also. What’s happening in AFC is the product of active politicians being officials of the club. Some of the officials have started seeing it as ‘us’ (as in everybody KPL,GM, FKF, Oguda) against them. To avoid all these shenanigans AFC should just stick to what they said in May that they will never play GM again and life will continue, everybody will be happy and we will take tham as serious gentlemen. Does anyone know if City Stars and Rangers who are without sponsors ask for advance payment before playing?
itis laughable for Efusi to tell us that they dont have money to honour this fixture yet they train just here in moi forces academy,wauze bus wapate funds,
Gor mahia fans come down when Kogalo wanted the match btw Ingwe postponed it was done so please don’t say Ingwe is over spending if they are it’s not your money.The top 8 tona should be a pre-season not during the season.How does it help Kogalo or Ingwe if the players get injured and lost for the season.This is the reason why Kenya can not even win the Kagame cup.Personally i could care less about the top 8 tona.What i want is to win the league.So Kogalo al see you in the Premier League and that will be the real game as it was during the good old days when we sold out the stadiums to a tune of 40000 plus.So Gor fans we will meet and don’t worry it will be Ingwe who will win.The hating is good i like it becoz when Ingwe and Kogalo are good then the Kenyan game is lifted up.Al see you at the game.
Good comments @ 6 i think they should have been told about the game. when i use to play all we cared about at the time was winning the super league and moi golden cup back in the day.
EUSI WACHA MUCHEZO KUJA MUPIGWE
Gor Taya. That’s all @ Mike Oduke.