Owoko slams referee for "biased officiating" in Wazito loss

 Vihiga Bullets’ head coach, George Owoko is disappointed with the standards of officiating in the Kenyan Premier League after his side lost 3-1 to visitors Wazito in a match played at the Bukhungu Stadium on Wednesday.

The match was characterised by a series of controversies after the visiting side was allowed to warm up even after arriving late at the venue, and Vihiga were allegedly denied two penalties much to the chagrin of Owoko.

He now says very little steps will be made in the sport if the trend is not stopped.

“Our league is ruined!” He lamented, “If the referees can decide the team to win a match, what is the point of us as coaches preparing the players from Monday to Friday?” he asked.

Owoko, a former Tusker and Bandari FC assistant coach, insists something has to be done to promote fair-play within the league.

“If they already knew were not going to win, then what was the point of playing? I would rather lose a game fairly, I accepted defeat against Tusker because it was a fair game,” he said, reflecting on the 2-1 loss to the Brewers over the weekend.

“We are young coaches who want to build a career by elevating ourselves to the next level. What is the point of coming here only to see my efforts denied?”

“We were denied two clear penalties in the first half and second half. All the 50-50 decisions were made against us!”

The Vihiga-based outfit have won just one game all season, a 4-2 victory over Nairobi City Stars and lost the rest of their fixtures.

Last season, they were relegated at the first time of asking after achieving promotion.

However, the recently reinstated Football Kenya Federation National Executive Council declared the football season null and void as it was under an illegitimate Caretaker Committee, allowing Vihiga to take part in the top flight this season.