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Shabana asks KFF to pay up

Shabana officials and the club’s fans now want the Kenya Football Federation's Transitional Committee to pay match officials in the Premier League. Led by treasurer Peter Omwando, the Kisii-based premiership club's officials said self-supporting clubs had found it hard to pay referees’ allowances. "We heavily rely on gate collections to raise players’ allowances and pay the home match officials, undertakings which have become too much for us to meet," said Omwando. Shabana’s appeal comes at a time when the club is facing a financial crisis.

Last weekend, Shabana's league encounter with Securicor had to be abandoned at the interval as match officials, led by centre referee Maurice Weda, declined to resume play demanding their dues. Shabana team manager Nicholas Ayuga had raised Sh1600 from the gates for the officials' payments but the five would not accept the amount. The referees stood their ground demanding Sh9500 in allowances and accommodation expenses.

The previous week, fans who had already paid to watch a league match at the Gusii Stadium were forced to contribute for match officials' allowances. The officials who included Kericho based Pius Oyoo and Timothy Nyandege and Peter Osoro forfeited the night out allowances to accept match allowances and save another abandonment. Shabana players have gone without pay for two seasons. The majority of the players borrow boots for use while others turn up the day before home matches.

Club coach-cum-player Rashid Omar said: "we can not afford funds to go to camp and the players just leave the pitch to their respective houses without a penny. He sent out an appeal to well wishers including members of parliament to come to the aid of the team. Before the end of last season South Mugirango MP James Magara, while attending the team’s home matches, pledged assistance but is yet to bail the club out. Meanwhile, club founder Dogo Khan has congratulated South Africa for winning their bid to stage the 2010 World Cup. Former Shabana deputy patron Sam Nyamweya also congratulated the South Africa Football Association on their successful bid.