KPL: AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia fans must style up

Gor Mahia fans engaged AFC Leapards fans in fight during the Kenya Power Charity Cup at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 02/2/14. PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

Football fans have a right to demand results from their teams, but the way AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia fans are voicing their views is quite worrying.
Recently, AFC and Gor supporters have been accused of causing trouble, assaulting referees and destroying property during their matches.
And what seemed to be a perfect 2014 Kenyan Premier League season was blighted in the last two weeks as ugly scenes of hooliganism resurfaced with fans of the two oldest and most followed clubs in country destroyed property and caused mayhem at stadiums after results failed to go their way.
But venting frustrations to public and individual property as was witnessed in Machakos town after Gor lost to Sofapaka is unfortunate. Those were just criminals and not football fans. These perpetrators of violence in stadiums should be arrested and charged in court.
All of us should embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and accept whatever results that come our way. In football, there are always three outcomes; win, draw and loss.

Dock points, fines and empty stadiums won’t curb hooliganism

If recent rulings by Football Kenya Federation is anything to go by, hooliganism is here to stay.
England has had more severe incidents of crowd trouble than any other country in the world, but since they introduced legal measures, the vice has reduced. But in Kenya, the federation seems to be glorifying the ‘god’ of impunity. FKF has been on lenient on both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia.
Banning fans from attending matches and imposing fines has been applied before with no effect on the culprits.
With the vice on the rise, it is time the federation worked closely with other stakeholders and introduce a series of legislative measures to curb this menace.

Fighting hooliganism is a collective responsibility and should not be left only to AFC and Gor to deal with it.
But in case clubs fail to control their fans, they must be docked points and those who cause violence, should be arrested and prosecuted. Referees who exhibit gross incompetence must also be punished heavily and banned from officiating.

Fans Voice: Incompetence is ailing Ingwe

I have been keenly following the happenings at the Den and I have come to one conclusion, which sums up all my observations. We lack sound/visionary leaders. All we have are cronies who are there to benefit at the expense of the team’s performance. We as fans/Stakeholders MUST take blame for voting in politicians who have no clue of how football is run, but all they know is throwing of plastic chairs at City Hall...but again, this is a chronic disease that ails the Luhya community at large (lack of sound leaders). My prayer is we get relegated and maybe we learn a thing or two before coming back. More than 13 coaches since 2009 and nothing to show off!-Steve Wekz

Your Say

I take these opportunity to invite Ingwe fans to fight hooliganism, sisi travelling fans ndio tunaumia, kama Kisumu hatukuenda, Mumias hatuendi na Mombasa labda Joho aingilie kat —Josphat Hivihivi Henry

AFC LEOPARDS is a club to watch if only our HOUSE will be put in ORDER —Juma James

Kichapo cha Gor Mahia kilinifuraisha fine nayo Mutua alifikiria poa sana —Francis Amahati

Maoni yangu tu kama game yetu na Sofapaka si Mumias, wapewe tu hizo alama 3. —Musyoka Andreas Iniesta

FKF this, FKF that, FKF fines this, FKF fines that. Football is headed to the dogs once more.!!! —Augustine Daniel

FKF orders change of venue 4 the Sofapaka game someone is busy running futball matters as though they are his bedroom affairs— Vic Venace

Fans who travelled to Kisumu mtuambie mliingia aje stadi pia sisi tujipange wa kuenda Mumias —Mathias Wafula

Hii ukoloni ya Nyamweya na Oguda kwa AFC inafaa ikomeshwe. —Caxton Hlestakov