Kenyan Premier League behemoths AFC Leopards are in the news again for all the wrong reasons. And a rogue female fan is the one doing them all the disservice this time around.
Earlier in the week, the club’s National Executive Committee (NEC) moved swiftly to condemn a tribal slur made by one of their fans who vented spleen on the team’s assistant captain, Peter Thiong’o.
The offensive came barely days after Thiong’o and team captain Eugene Mukangula were stripped of their captaincy roles for reportedly failing to show leadership in a heated row between the players and management over a pay dispute.
The decision to sack the two players triggered exuberant engagements on social media with a female fan in one of the online forums suggesting that players from the Mount Kenya region be sent packing from the club at the expiry of their contracts. It is noteworthy that the club immediately released a statement to distance itself from the tribal remarks.
The Leopards’ NEC expressed their disappointment, stating categorically that the fan’s sentiments did not in any way reflect the club’s values or beliefs.
“As a club deeply rooted in the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, and inclusivity, we are committed to upholding the values of respect, unity, and harmony within our footballing community. AFC Leopards Sports Club is cherished and respected across the entire Kenyan fraternity irrespective of religion, tribe, and any other inclination,” the club statement reads in part.
“In light of the inappropriate remarks, we want to assure the footballing community that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against the fan, which may include a ban from attending our matches. If she were a member, we could have expelled her as we take those remarks to be very serious,” the statement further reads.
I’m entirely baffled that Football Kenya Federation and the Kenya Footballers’ Welfare Association are yet to weigh in on this grave matter. Seemingly, we are transferring the risky tribal theatrics witnessed in the volatile political scene to the football landscape.
Kenyans can’t afford to keep mum as a risky trend takes shape in the country. We must come out and speak loudly against such behaviour in one firm chorus.
FKF should borrow a leaf from the Brazilian Football Association that condemned the “racist attacks” Brazilian soccer player Vinicius Jr has repeatedly suffered in Spain. Hundreds of Valencia supporters were seen singing “Vinicius is a monkey” in social media videos as the Real Madrid bus arrived at the stadium in Valencia ahead of a league game.
The 22-year-old forward, Real Madrid’s second-highest scorer in all competitions this season with 23 goals, called out fans who had yelled racist remarks at him, causing the game to be delayed for ten minutes. Because of his response to the situation, Vinicius Jr. was dismissed.
Maria Laura da Rocha, Brazil’s deputy foreign minister, expressed shock at the racial assaults in a forceful statement. “Vinicius Jr received a red card for not enduring all that. The red card should have been given to racism.”
Similarly, FKF ought to call on the government and sports authorities to punish the rogue Leopards fan in a determined effort to curtail the spread of such irresponsible utterances.
We deeply regret that, until now, effective measures have not been taken to prevent and avoid the repetition of this distasteful act of tribalism that has the potential of sending our football to the dogs. Real Kenyan football enthusiasts are not ready to witness any ugly scenes in our stadia that could be provoked by such unreasonable remarks.
