The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) conspired with referees to falsify score sheets in order to cover up allegations that they violated its eligibility rules during the national playoffs.
The news comes after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) declared the playoffs null and void and ordered a rematch, creating an organizational nightmare for the league’s schedulers.
Dennis Opiyo Achiego alias Dikembe, a former player, filed a case with the SDT claiming Ulinzi Warriors were allowed to field an ineligible player Valentine Nyakinda during their playoff match against Kisumu Lakeside.
Kisumu Lakeside officials and a number of Team Managers from across the league lodged immediate complaints, and the KBF later attempted to cover it up by doctoring the team sheets.
According to KBF rules and regulations, a player can only participate in the playoffs if he or she has played at least three regular league games. Nyakinda had not met that requirement but continued to play.
The SDT, presided over by John Ohaga, ruled that the KBF violated league and competition rules, rendering the playoffs null and void.
The tribunal also ordered that the match between Ulinzi Warriors and Lakeside be awarded to Lakeside.
“We have rules and regulations that guide basketball in our country, the problem is that the federation breaks their own rules and we all know match fixing is a serious crime in our country.
“Ulinzi played against EMYBA and they won the game fair and square without Nyakinda and we didn’t have any issue on Ulinzi winning the game but later on some federation officials together with Ulinzi forged score sheet to put the player in question on the score sheet and the worst part is signatures of referees were also forged,” Opiyo said.
Opiyo raised the same issues in a letter to Sports Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed, complaining about management and processes in the federation, particularly match fixing and misappropriation of funds by the KBF.
Former national team player Opiyo has also accused the federation of match-fixing in order to favor corporate teams.
Opiyo went on to say that the federation has used intimidation to silence critics and force their agenda.
Ambrose Kisoi, secretary general of the Kenya Basketball Federation, says the federation will appeal the ruling and that the current season will be unaffected.
“Of course the two are independent because the new season has no real connection with the old season as there is no advantage the winner is supposed to enjoy in the new season as teams are just given fixtures. So in respect of the ruling if we were to repeat the playoffs then they can still run concurrently,” Kisoi said.
Kisoi has also expressed concern about the expense of replaying the playoffs.
“The only major issue we have with the ruling is when the court tells us we must replay at federation expense, which we simply cannot afford,” Kisoi added.
Kisoi, on the other hand, has stated that they will seek legal advice from their lawyers on how to proceed.
Ulinzi was fined in accordance with league and competition rules, and the KBF was ordered to restart the playoffs.
The KBF has also been ordered to pay for the cost of restarting the playoffs, with the tribunal recommending full investigations into the forged score sheet and that the KBF pay for the petition as well.
