Nine officials and players of Busia County League side Kakurikit Bullets FC suffered injuries when fans became chaotic at the end of an ill-fated match against Kokare FC at Kokare Primary School grounds at the weekend.
Players Emmanuel Barasa, Elisha Imai, Transport Manager Evans Amurwon and team doctor Brian Obari suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Life Care Bungoma, where they were treated and discharged.
Head Coach Godfrey Osere suffered eye injuries. Other injured officials were Club Secretary John Emerikwa, Assistant Coach Billy Imai, midfielder Fred Ngesa, and goalkeeper Dick Amurwon who were rushed to Kocholia Sub County Hospital for treatment.
The club’s senior advisor Celestine Oriama said they lost 0-1 and blamed their opponents for having instigated the violence that led to his players and officials suffering severe injuries, noting that they had identified Kokare fans who attacked them.
Kakurikit officials lamented that the provocation started early in the match with the perceived Kokare security walking with clubs (rungus) during the match, which they noted was not in order.
They called for a paradigm shift to ensure local referees were assigned duties in other sub counties to avoid fans’ disruptions occasioned by alleged biased officiating.
Emotions reigned the match that witnessed a second half 10 minutes’ stoppage when bench officials engaged in nasty skirmishes.
Kakurikit played under protest, claiming their opponents played with some ineligible players.
The victory by Kokare, which had lost 1-3 to Kakurikit in the first leg, saw them inch closer to taking the league leadership after edging the visiting side 1-0 before skirmishes.
The lone goal of the ill-tempered match was scored by Ismael Miya in the 16th minute.
In the other zone A matches, Rwatama earned free points after Okuleu FC failed to show up while Katakwa upset league leaders FC Amagoro 1-0 with Kevin Otwane scoring the lone goal in the 24th minute. Kamuriai beat Korisai 2-0 with Wekesa Bruno and Victor Onyango accounting for the goals.
FC Amagoro has started plummeting and saw their 10 point lead narrowed to two by first improving Kokare FC. Amagoro has 30 points from 14 matches. Kokare is second with 28 points from the same number of matches with Kakurikit lying third with 25 points with 25 points.
In Zone B, Mabale trounced Olepito 3-0 with goals from Kombo Mhasio, Joseph Ouma, and Benedict Otsieno. Angorom beat Nyumba Kumi with Ernest Ochieng, scoring a brace in the 78th and 81st minutes.
Outgrowers trounced Simuli Youths 3-1 at Mubwao Primary School. The winners scored their goals from Clinton Obinya in the 32nd and 62nd minutes, Braco Misanya in the 85th minute.
Sikinga Select earned three crucial points after beating hosts Bosman Knights 2-1 at Buhuyi Primary School through goals by Wycliffe Ausine in the 25th minute and Osman Ainea in the 40th minute. Bosman’s consolation goal was scored by Bonface Andati in the 75th minute.
By Absalom Namwalo
