- Should the appeal be upheld, Yala could face disciplinary sanctions that may include forfeiture of the match and disqualification from the competition
- The appeal stems from allegations that St. Mary’s Yala fielded age-ineligible players and engaged in player impersonation during the regional final played in Homa Bay County
Tournament officials will tomorrow hear and determine an appeal filed by Kisumu Boys High School against regional champions St. Mary’s Yala, in a ruling that will decide the fate of the 2026 Nyanza Region boys’ football championship.
The appeal is scheduled for hearing on July 15, starting at 9:00 a.m., and stems from allegations that St. Mary’s Yala fielded age-ineligible players and engaged in player impersonation during the regional final played in Homa Bay County.
St. Mary’s Yala, a Siaya County-based school, edged Kisumu Boys 1-0 in a closely contested match to lift the regional trophy and secure qualification for the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games. However, the result is now under scrutiny after Kisumu Boys formally challenged the eligibility of some of the players who featured for Yala.
The tournament jury is expected to review evidence presented by both institutions before arriving at a verdict, in a case that has attracted significant interest from school football stakeholders, coaches, players and fans across the region given the far-reaching implications of the ruling.
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Should the appeal be upheld, Yala could face disciplinary sanctions that may include forfeiture of the match, disqualification from the competition or the loss of their qualification slot, a decision that would dramatically alter the region’s representation at the national championships.
Conversely, should the allegations be found unsubstantiated, Yala’s victory and regional title will stand, clearing the way for the team to continue preparations for the national games.
The dispute has once again brought into sharp focus the importance of strict compliance with KSSSA eligibility regulations, particularly on matters concerning age limits and player registration.
As the hearing date approaches, all eyes will be on the tournament jury, whose verdict could either confirm Yala’s status as regional champions or trigger a major shake-up in Nyanza school football.
By Antony Ogada
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