HOOLIGANISM:A GAME OF SOCCER OR A BATTLEFIELD?

by
Collins Okinyo
October 21, 2014

By Francis Ngira,

This is and perhaps will be the shortest piece of my career since I knew, understood, briefly played soccer in Kenya and now not just covering it, but doing so with an aim to change.

Acts of hooliganism and football as topic is a shameful combination that deserves no more airtime than this.

However, I must say this quickly in closing because from the onset I had shown all intentions of not going to spend much time glorifying a crime that’s neither a handball nor a dangerous tackle by constantly mentioning it.

Since FKF took over, we have postponed, and in most instances dragged the delivery of fair judgement. This has been going on for far too long on many of this cases that it has eroded confidence in the rule of law for the victims and strengthened impunity amongst perpetrators including forcing some former victims into organisers of retaliatory attacks.

A case in point being the controversial AFC Leopards, Muhoroni game in the Western region that subsequently yielded to the ‘Salty day’ at Nyayo in the return leg, and the ugly scenes at the Gor Mahia, Sony Sugar F.C return leg match at Kasarani after the abandoned Sony Awendo game in the first leg of the 2013 KPL season.

I’m a live sports camera operator who has been time and again teargassed, stoned and seen many innocent football loving supporters especially women and children helplessly writhing in pain through my lens and it saddens me.

My son loves watching the Kenyan League games but I have since stopped letting him be brought to the stadium not only because I don’t want to see his broken skin or swollen limb but because I also know children learn by copying and thus the future is threatened.

In my opinion, our federation is still ‘a toothless bulldog’ until it acts firmly today and not tomorrow.

I will only be tempted to pardon FKF’s slugish reaction if they are waiting for a life to be lost or people maimed for life before they act.

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Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com