Kisumu Lakers women’s hockey club has been fined a total of Euros 6,000 an equivalent of Ksh 1,039,914 by Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF), for misconduct during the 25th Edition of Africa Cup of Clubs Championships (ACCC) that was held last month at Blantyre, Malawi on November 18-26.
In a communication sent by the AfHF President Seif Ahmed to Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) President Lt Co. (rtd) Nashon Randiek, on resolutions and sanctions against Lakers said that the African governing body took action against the club for fielding ineligible players during the tournament and interrupting the final match between Ghana Revenue Authority and Blazers Hockey Club (Ken).
“Prior to the final match the tournament director had communicated to the team that following investigations they had fielded non-registered players thus led to their disqualification and were not to play in the finals as earlier planned.” Said AFHF.
The AfHF executive board meeting held after the tournament in Malawi on November, 2023, ordered Kisumu Lakers to pay a financial sanction of Euro 2000 (Ksh 346,654) to AFHF before the end of March 2024.
Their officials John Paul Otieno (Team Manager), Austin Antony Onyango Tuju (Head Coach), Elizabeth Awuor Obong’o (Assistant Coach) and Robert Oketch the Assistant Team Manager were banned for five years from all local and international hockey activities, backtracked from 8th December, 2023, and pay a financial sanction of euros 1,000 each (Ksh 173,200), before March 2023 to AFHF.
Also, all players that represented Kisumu Lakers during the Africa Cup of Clubs Championships in Malawi were also banned for a year from all hockey events both locally and internationally from 8th December 2023.
However the affected parties are free to lodge their appeals to AfHF through Kenya Hockey Union Executive Board.
