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Ingwe supporters have called on each other not to attend the match with the club supporting the call despite their stadium ban being over
Confusion surrounds Sunday’s ‘Mashemeji’ derby after AFC Leopards supported their fans call to not attend the match following the recent sanctions imposed on the club.
Football Kenta Federation Leagues and Competitions Committee docked Leopards three points after chaos were witnessed during their league clash with Kakamega Homeboyz on April 16, leading to its abandonment.
The club were also ordered to pay a Ksh500,000 fine besides catering for medical costs incurred by centre referee Michael Obuya, who was beaten by irate fans, at Bukhungu Stadium.
Ingwe were also ordered to play their next four league matches behind closed doors while the FKF Disciplinary Committee opened proceedings into the conduct of the club’s coach Patrick Aussems and his assistant Lawrence Webo.
It is from this background that Ingwe fans have insisted they will not attend Sunday’s match against their bitter rivals even though the team have already played five matches, four at home, meaning they should be free to attend.
Ingwe have hosted KCB, Bandari, Ulinzi Stars and Nzoia Sugar while playing away to Bidco United since the suspension and it was expected that they will have supporters in the stands for the derby. However, the club maintains that no official communication has been given in that regard, hence the need to tread carefully.
“Our fans have a right to decide what they want to do,” Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda told Pulse Sports on Thursday.
“As far as we are concerned, we are still banned and we do not expect our fans in the stadium. We have not received any communication about us being allowed back. We don’t want to cause more trouble because we are already being punished heavily.”
Shikanda’s sentiments came hours after Ingwe fans called on each other to boycott the match to ‘teach’ the federation a lesson “that football without fans is not football.”
“Branches and AFC Leopards SC fans/ supporters/ followers have sacrificed a lot to ensure they get to the stadium for the love of the game. On the other hand, FKF has done absolutely nothing to encourage fans back to the stands,” read part of the statement from the fans.
“They have failed in professionalising and marketing our league hence clubs are going through some serious financial problems to honour their league matches. But instead of the federation trying to cushion clubs they are keen on settling non-existent scores with punitive penalties against clubs like us.”
Gor are the home team for the highly-billed clash with K’Ogalo looking for victory to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the standings.
Both teams played out a goalless draw the last time they met in January and Aussems has hinted at fielding a weakened squad with his eyes on the FKF Cup semi-final against Homeboyz on May 20.
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