The Opich Pacho football tournament in Kisumu has been banned even before a ball is kicked.
The Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) in conjunction with the county government of Kisumu on Wednesday launched the Opich Pacho football tournament.
The tournament, which was to bring together thirty-five teams, one team each from the 35 wards of Kisumu County, was to start on Friday, July 20, 2018.
But in a twist of events, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nyanza North Branch has imposed a sanction on the yet to begin the tournament.
''FKF is warning all members including the referees, coaches and officials that Opich Pacho is an unsanctioned tournament by FKF and any member found participating in this tournament shall be deregistered and further action was taken against such a member,'' FKF Nyanza North Secretary Dickson Oruko is quoted by Soka.co.ke.
''Kindly refrain from taking part in this tournament until such a time that the office will agree with the organizers, kindly refrain,'' he added.
Speaking during the launch of the tournament at a Kisumu hotel on Wednesday, Kisumu County Chief Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Sports Ms Achie Alai lauded KBL for investing in youths by launching the tournament.
Eric Kiniti who is KBL Director of Corporate Affairs on his part said that the tournament aims at positively impacting the lives of youths by being an alternative source of income.
The cash prize for the tournament is Sh300, 000.