Homabay governor Cyprian Awiti and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong’o at the Moi stadium in Kisumu last weekend. The stadium may not host CECAFA matches due to ‘security concerns'. [Photo/ gormahia.net]
The upcoming Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) tournament matches may not be held in Kisumu.
This is after Football Kenya Federation (FKF), decided to move matches earlier planned to be staged in Kisumu’s Moi stadium to Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, due to security concerns.
“Teams have requested that we move matches from Kisumu because of the current political situation in the country. We have decided to move matches to Machakos for the time being as we monitor the situation in Kisumu,” FKF president Nick Mwendwa is quoted by an online soccer daily.
Some football fans on social media have however accused FKF of ‘playing politics’ with football matters.
Moi Stadium in Kisumu was supposed to host Group A matches. The group consists of hosts Kenya, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Tanzania and Libya.
Group B comprises of defending champions Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Group B matches will be played at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County.
CECAFA tournament kicks off on December 03. The final will be played on December 17. Kisumu has witnessed ugly scenes in the recent past, with youth alleged to be National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters looting and harassing traders during demonstrations.
Last weekend, a section of Gor Mahia fans broke into Moi Stadium during season ender match pitying Gor Mahia against Sony Sugar, without paying the required entrance fee.
The fans entered the stadium after they called for the withdrawal of police from the stadium. Some of them claimed they do not need police protection, as they were capable of protecting themselves.