The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued strict rules against schools fielding ineligible players in the Trans Nzoia County KSSSA games, which kick off today.
In a circular to the principals whose schools qualified for the 2025 knock-out Second Term ballgames being played in various grounds in Kwanza, the participating schools were warned against fielding rogue players, popularly known as Mamluki.
In a letter dated June 18, 2025, the County Director of Education, Ms Pamela Akello, directed the principals to upload the players’ names from the MoE portal, which will be tallied with the physical list submitted for the games.
This is as some principals complained of having received the information belatedly, too late, and not reaching the Ministry’s portal in time. The portal was said to be jammed a few hours before the deadline for submitting the list of players to the KSSSA.
Ms Akello, in a strong-worded statement, also warned against the interference of non-teacher coaches hired by schools in the two-day activities that run from today to tomorrow, Saturday.
The statement read in part: “As managers, you should ensure discipline on the field and outside. There will be no use of abusive language and you will be held responsible for any irregularities”.
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She further asked the heads of the schools whose teams will have qualified for the semi-finals and finals to attend the matches personally.
The directive comes in response to allegations and complaints that some teams have hired players to participate in their teams during the zonal and Sub-county games, raising doubts about the quality and competence of the games.
During the 2024 county tournament, which was staged at St. Patrick’s Tuikon in Saboti Sub-county, the games were marred by physical incidents where students clashed over the Mamluki having taken part in the boys’ soccer.
It’s feared that some of the affected teams in the ongoing 2025 games may be forced to field fewer than the required 11 players due to their ineligibility after their names were removed from the MoE portal.
In the boys’ soccer category, there are four groups with three teams. The group consists of Goseta, Kabuyefwe, and Endebess Centre, Group B – Njoro, Bwake, and Holly Trinity, C – St. Anthony’s, Bishop Crawley Lukesi, and Kolongolo. In contrast, Group D comprises St Joseph’s, Kipkekei, and Kwanza Boys.
Unconfirmed reports stated that Endebess Centre and Kolongolo were experiencing difficulties in verifying the players, as the KSSSA was set to flag off the games in the morning.
The teams have a hectic schedule to meet the target as they close the tournament tomorrow, before the principals head off to Mombasa for the KESSHA conference, set for the following Monday.
By Abisai Amugune.
