Shikanda blames FKF for AFC Leopards Vs Police FC match abandonment

AFC Leopards Chairman Dan Shikanda has blamed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for the abandonment of the FKF Cup semi-final match between AFC Leopards and Kenya Police FC at the Police Sacco Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The match was called off at the 60th minute after the assistant referee was hit by an object as AFC Leopards were trailing 1-0, forcing FKF to call off the encounter and later reschedule the last 30 minutes of the match to Monday, May 27, 2024 at 11:00am.

According to Shikanda, FKF ignored Leopards’ letter not to take the high voltage match to the venue, terming it unsafe for both players and fans.

He also said that the number of security officers that were deployed to maintain law and order at the venue was inadequate.

“We are playing a top match, a season decider with not enough security available,” retorted Shikanda.

“They have denied our stewards an opportunity and we wrote to the federation and told them this field is too small to host a high risk match between Leopards and Kenya Police. And you can see, are we going forward or are we going backwards? We have been playing matches and attracting huge fans to the stadium and we know a match that can be played here and that which can’t be risked on this stadium,” added Shikanda.

Police danger man Tito Okello scored the lone goal yesterday in the 7th minute after connecting Kenneth Muguna's cross from the left, heading home a sublime goal past goalkeeper Levis Opiyo.

The winner between Leopards and Kenya Police FC will face KCB in the FKF Cup final next month, to determine who will represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup next season.

The Bankers saw off Kariobangi Sharks through post-match penalties in the first semi-final match staged at the same venue, and now the Bernard-Mwalala coached side are only a match away from participating in continental football.