The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Busia County has cleared Achia Echakara Kamuriai Secondary School to represent Teso North Sub-county in the county football competition slated for next week.
Initially, Kamuriai had been picked to host this year’s county games, but owing to hostility from the local community, threatening lives of sub county secretary Livingstone Emedele and Kamuriai Principal Ethleen Idionyi, the County Jury has moved the games to Matayos Sub-county, Busia Town starting June 20, 2024.
KSSSA Busia County Secretary Charles Okanya said even if the games were moved to any venue within the sub county, the same hostility would spiral, thus jury’s ultimatum to move the games to another sub county.
Okanya said, following the latest developments, they conducted the draw with Kamuriai pitted in Pool A together with John Osogo Boys Secondary from Bunyala, Apokor from Teso Central, and Mabunge from Nambale.
Pool B will feature Butula from Butula Sub-county, Matayos new kids on the block Mt Olives, St Joseph Chakol from Teso South and Hakati from Funyula Sub-county.
Kamuriai had duly won the right to represent the sub county in the county games after beating Katakwa 2-0 in the finals last Sunday. However, in a twist of events the following day, the local jury made a ruling that Kamuriai take on Kolanya in the final on Tuesday after Katakwa, which had beaten them 1-0 in the semi-finals were found with irregularities following an appeal by Kolanya.
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The decision raised eyebrows from Kamuriai students and the school alumni who trekked for over 10 kilometres to the County Commissioner’s offices in Amagoro to protest the decision by the local jury to force them repeat the finals which they claimed had never been witnessed in association football.
Veteran sports journalist Seth Ngeron while reacting to the move for Kamuriai to play again in the final, termed it the joke of the year.
Huo mchezo unafanyika Teso North unanikera tu. (Those machinations happening in Teso North is hurting me to the born),” he said.
Ngero added: “If Kolanya had issues with Katakwa, then they should have stopped them from playing in the semi-finals and also they should have stopped the final to be played until their issue is resolved.”
“Why accept to play them in the semis, they beat you, proceed to the final after being defeated by a clean team, then you want to force a play with that tired team? Kamuria are being robbed,” he noted.
Okanya said Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba helped them with trophies to winning teams last year, noting that they have placed fresh request for the CS to help the association with trophies this year.
The winners in the football boys and soccer girls’ categories will qualify for the regional games to be hosted by Bungoma County with Kisii to host the national games.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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