NAIROBI, Kenya, October 29 – The mystery of the steward who attacked Sofapaka custodian David Okello during the ill-tempered clash with champions Gor Mahia deepened after K’Ogalo disowned him on Wednesday.
The man wearing a red bib was caught on live television assaulting Okello after he held on to the ball moments after midfielder Geoffrey Kizito scored Gor’s second to reduce the deficit to one forcing referee Nasur Doka to stop the match for over ten minutes.
Speaking when petitioning Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to review the punishment meted out on them following the melee that broke out during the top of the table clash club Secretary General, Chris Omondi claimed the bully steward is not their member.
“As a club we are convinced he is not one of us because our stewards wear blue bibs with numbers on them but from our footage, the person who attacked the keeper was in a red bib.
“We can’t say those who caused fracas were Gor fans because it’s difficult to define who is a real Gor fan. Wearing a Gor jersey doesn’t mean you are a fan and we believe there are people who were hired to harm the clubs’ image and our progress in retaining the title,” Omondi alleged.
In delivering punishment for the acts of hooliganism that marred the otherwise thrilling encounter, FKF ordered Gor to reveal the identity of the steward or fan that attacked the keeper for the federation to take further action on the individual failure to which the club would bear the responsibility.
Additionally, they were directed to play their remaining two matches behind closed doors and pay a Sh500,000 fine.
Gor, who are leading Sofapaka by a point, declared they cannot afford to play without their loyal fans when they need them most, with Omondi stressing they will fight to see the ban is lifted.
“Based on the facts and evidence the club has presented to FKF on what transpired in Machakos, we demand sanctions imposed on Gor to be reversed. If we are not successful, then we will appeal.
“We cannot run away from there are some forces keen on spoiling our good game and from what we have gathered, the chaos were pre-planned and politics cannot be ruled out,” the Secretary General further charged.
The club echoed FKF in asserting Machakos County Governor, Dr. Alfred Mutua had no jurisdiction to sanction them following his Monday proclamation proscribing them from using Kenyatta Stadium and surcharging them Sh10m for damages caused by a section of the Green Army,.
“We will not pay and we don’t know how we owe them. There is nowhere Gor comes in; they had an agreement with Sofapaka. We were just visitors. We believe FKF exist to promote soccer in the county so when they fine a community club that is on its knees financially and ban its fans where do we get our revenue from? Instead they are crippling us,” the secretary general decried.