Achiya Echakara Kamuriai Secondary School students in Teso North Sub-county, Busia County, on Tuesday trekked for over 10 kilometres to the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices in Amagoro, to protest the decision by the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) to reverse their finals victory against Katakwa.
Katakwa had beaten Salvation Army Kolanya Boys High School 2-0 in the semi-finals to book a ticket for the finals where they met Kamuriai, which they lost 0-2 to give hosts Kamuriai a ticket to represent the sub-county in the county finals that kicks off at Kamuriai Secondary school grounds tomorrow Thursday.
On Tuesday morning, the school walk up to the disappointing news that they will repeat the finals against arch-rivals Kolanya Boys that was scheduled for yesterday (Tuesday), to determine which team qualifies to represent the sub county at the county level.
Kolanya won an appeal against their semi-final opponents, claiming Katakwa fielded some ineligible players, which the jury upheld, thus ordering that the finals be repeated, this time against Kolanya Boys.
The decision by KSSSA aroused outrage from the Alumni of Kamuriai who joined the students in streets protests paralysing operations along the busy Ikapolok-Amagoro highway that links Malaba and the Great Lakes region.
David Ingoba said Kamuriai were in Pool A together with Kajei, Moding, and Katakwa. Kamuriai emerged champions after winning all their matches and Katakwa taking second position.
In Pool B, Kolanya was pitted against Malaba Township High School, Kocholia, and Kakurikit. Kolanya emerged top in the pool, with Kakurikit taking second position to qualify for the semis.
The semi-finals between Kolanya and Katakwa ended prematurely following fan trouble with fans and players baying for the centre referee’s blood after he allegedly disallowed their goal after initially allowing it.
READ ALSO:
Kakamega School accuses Musingu of poaching its nine football players
Organisers led by KSSSA Teso North Secretary Livingston Emedele ordered that the match be replayed the following day, which Katakwa won 1-0 to book a ticket for the finals which was played on Sunday.
Ingoba said the organisers had planned that Kolanya Boys arrange to transport Kamuriai players to an undisclosed venue in Funyula Sub-county for the final match.
They would also have met their lunch.
“We declined in totality. We have never seen a football final match being replayed!”
Kamuriai captain Felix Etori said they were duly crowned the sub-county champions after beating Katakwa 2-0 with him Etori and Kevin Oboke scoring the winning goals.
Etori said in the recent European Champions League between Real Madrid and Borrusia Dortmond, which the Spanish side won 2-0, they were duly handed over the trophy without complaints.
“We were also handed over the trophy by the Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Wambura at the end of the gruelling match. We wonder why the victory was snatched from us? He wondered.
He added:” As the hosts of the County finals Etori said they are confident of excelling in the event and qualify for the regionals, and the nationals, God-willing.
Collins Wafula said it’s shocking that despite emerging winners, their hard-won victory had been snatched from them and given to Kolanya Boys, which had lost in the semi-finals.
CIPU Teso North Commander Brian Okumu, who received the students on behalf of the DCC, assured them that their grievances, will be looked into and an amicable solution arrived at before the kick-off of the county games.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
