By Belindah Maska,
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has set up seven man team to probe possibility of match fixing and sabotage in the 1-0 loss to Lesotho that meant Harambee Stars were knocked out.
The decision was reached on Thursday in Nairobi after an executive committee meeting that also slapped an indefinite suspension on Technical Director Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee and formed a task force to probe Kenya’s dismal performance against Lesotho in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
“The outcome of the Lesotho game both home and away was not ordinary and the machinations around the two matches left alot to be desired.The general conduct of the coach Adel Amrouche, who was serving a CAF suspension left his official assistants alienated and ultimately undermined by the singular action of arbitrarily designating an individual unknown to the federation to be the acting head coach”
“The fielding and tactical approach in the match did not show the right intentions and it was clear the technical bench deliberately undermined the expectations of Kenyans therefore arising from the observations which bring to the fore question of wether the match was fixed or it was deliberate sabotage”A statement from FKF read in part.
The seven member inquiry team, led by FKF Disciplinary and Appeals Committee chairman Prof Moni Wekesa, will look at three key issues among them, the conduct of national technical bench members.
Other members of the Inquiry Team are- James Siang’a (renowned ex-international), Bob Oyugi (Secretary-General (Kefoca), John Ngururi (Ex-Fifa referee), Dr JJ Masiga (renowned ex-international), Gladys Waweru (Fifa referees instructor), Fred Ashimotsi (Advocate of the High Court-Assisting Counsel/Committee Secretary.
FKF gave the probe team three weeks to prepare a comprehensive report detailing it’s findings, observations and recommendations.In addition,the Federation has given suspended head coach Adel Amrouche upto Friday 15 August to show cause why his contract should not be terminated for bringing the Kenyan game into disrepute.
The Federation accused Amrouche, a Belgian of tarnishing Kenya’s name through misconduct that led to his 12 month ban by CAF.
He is also accused of leaving a stranger, a person unknown to the Federation to take charge of the team during the matches against Lesotho while alienating his two assistants .