FKF hands Ulinzi Starlets win after Zetech Sparks field ineligible player

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has awarded Ulinzi Starlets FC three points after they protested over Zetech Sparks FC’s fielding of an ineligible player before their FKF Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL) match on March 8, 2025, at the Ruaraka Grounds.

The ruling comes after Ulinzi Starlets lodged a protest concerning the participation of Bertha Omita, a player whose transfer to Zetech Sparks had not been finalized before the match.

The FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee says it reviewed the protest, along with reports from Zetech Sparks and the match officials, and concluded that the player was ineligible to participate.

The committee also noted that Zetech Sparks failed to present Omita’s FKF license for verification before the match, which is a requirement under FKF regulations.

“Zetech Sparks FC did not present Bertha Omita’s FKF license for verification before the match. From the Referee’s Report, the mentioned player appears in the team sheet. However, no license number has been indicated for the player,” said FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee in a statement.

“THAT Art. 3.8.3 of the FKF Regulations provides that player(s) whose license cannot be presented by club officials at the time of inspection, shall be ineligible to play in the respective FKF Competition,” the statement further said.

As a result of these findings, Zetech Sparks FC were found guilty of violating Article 3.8.1 of the FKF Regulations, which requires clubs to ensure that all players are properly licensed before participating in league matches.

The ruling saw Zetech Sparks FC forfeit the match which was awarded to Ulinzi Starlets FC.

The three points awarded to Ulinzi Starlets lift the soldiers to second place on the log with 41 points from 20 matches, narrowing the gap to league leaders Kenya Police Bullets FC to just two points, with one round of matches to go.

This leaves the title race wide open in the final stretch of the season.