Shabana FC fans have declared their intention to stay away from Saturday’s FKF Premier League match against Mara Sugar, citing concerns that Awendo Stadium is “too small to host the large number of the club’s supporters.” The club’s secretary general, Elizaphan Kerema, stated that the 5,000-seater facility cannot accommodate their fans, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to avoid the match to prevent potential crowd troubles.
“Awendo Stadium has significant limitations in its capacity to accommodate the large number of supporters expected for this match. With our fan base growing, we anticipate that the turnout may exceed safe limits. This poses serious security concerns for everyone in attendance, which cannot be overlooked,” Kerema explained.
He also mentioned that their attempts to persuade the FKF and host team Mara Sugar to change the venue were unsuccessful. “We previously communicated this concern to the host team through the appropriate regulatory body, requesting a change of venue to one that could better accommodate the numbers. Regrettably, the host has insisted on maintaining the match at the same venue,” he added.
Kerema further alleged that there has been an effort to tarnish the image of their fans following the absence of officials at the aborted match against Posta Rangers on September 28. He criticized the FKF for not providing a resolution regarding the suspended fixture after the federation denied claims that it had instructed match officials to boycott the game.
“…we believe it is in the best interest of our supporters to avoid attending the match. We understand that failure to address these issues could lead to further complications, including the potential postponement of the match, which would only serve to demoralize our loyal fans and undermine the spirit of the game,” he stated.
Earlier, the FKF’s Leagues and Competitions Committee had sanctioned the club to play five matches without a crowd due to fan troubles during the team’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Ulinzi Stars at Ulinzi Complex on September 22. However, the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) granted the club stay orders, allowing their fans to attend the canceled match against Posta Rangers.
The Gusii outfit was on the verge of securing their first win of the season when Ulinzi Stars equalized deep into stoppage time, leading to accusations of biased officiating and subsequent acts of hooliganism from the fans.
