It’s now one week to commencement of 2019 national term 2 ball games in Kisumu with regional champions in various sports sharpening their arsenal in readiness for the task ahead. Ebwali secondary school will represent western region in soccer under 20 after the finalists St. Peters Mumias and St. Marys’ of Kibabii were all disqualified for fielding ineligible players after a two weeks investigation by the regional education office. The regional office revoked the letter given to the saints and instead gave it to Ebwali sec school.
St. marys who were the runners up were disqualified after Ebwali secondary appealed against one student on the case of impersonation. The Bungoma saints accepted the verdict from the investigating officers which led to disqualification and one year ban from term 2 soccer boys under 20. On the other hand St. Peters Mumias soccer under 20 team were on the receiving end after being banned for one year for fielding six ineligible players according to KSSSA rules. Maliki boys and kibabii had appealed against the Kakamega county champions.
Mr. Cosmas Nabungolo who’s the current St. peters Principal who transferred from St. Antony’s boys of Tranzoia county has not fallen short of controversies. He has never lost a match without appealing, including going in the court of law for arbitration. Many will recall in 2015 when he involved Jogoo house until the match between his team and green commandos of kakamega high was replayed in machakos county the very day nationals commenced.
His character of go-getter in matters football seemingly has send shivers among the KSSSA officials who fear making decisions that might go against this catholic faithful principal. According to unconfirmed sources from the ground, Butere boys and other teams had very strong cases basing on the ineligibility of some players from Mumias side but both the KSSSA officials and kakamega county education office could not even think of disqualifying the saints. Mr. Murunga, the secretary of KSSSA kakamega county refused to comment on the matter when we tried to interview him on the same.
Was there any chance for the saints to survive the ban?
After the appeals were tabled in Bungoma, its believed Mr. Cosmas Nabungolo could not imagine the unimaginable of the outcome like a ban. It got him as a shock and now that he has never let it go easily he has moved to higher offices to re-appeal. Sources indicate that the pressure on the regional director’s office was just enormous and soccer lovers could not let it go if The Saints could have gotten their way. The sources indicate immense forgery of birth and K.C.P.E certificates of the overgrown players. It also believed that some players joined the school this year faulting the 90 day rule according to the KSSSA rules governing the championship. Other sources indicate that more than three players transferred from one school that is St. Antony’s of Kitale last year which is again against the stipulated rules in KSSSA. One of the players who didn’t merit is understood to have transferred from Misikhu boys and was already overage on the time of transfer. It’s believed Kwale girls were disqualified by the same rule after coast region officials were satisfied that three girls transferred from Nyakach girls last year.
Will St. Peters Mumias represent western during nationals in 2019?
Speaking on the local Fm radio in western Kenya, the school’s sports reporter Mr. Martin Wanjala confirmed that the school will be in Kisumu to represent the region during nationals. The rumors going around in both social and mainstream media is that the saints are in the top gear preparing for the showdown in Kisumu next week. It’s believed the national office was at the school to ascertain the causes of the one year ban. But what surprises many is that the regional office is not aware of any appeal against their ruling. The western region secretary Mr. Quinto Omusugu indeed confirmed on west Fm radio that there’s no appeal at all so far from the school. The question lingering in many soccer enthusiasts is; will the National office be compromised this time around? The antenna now is directed towards the KSSSA National office and Jogoo house if the rumors around are to go by.
Anonymous sports writer.
