Vocal Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has poured cold water on suggestion indicating that he has been fattening referees pulses in exchange of calls in favour of his team on match days.Shimanyula has been widely mentioned in football circles for his alleged involvement in manipulating officials to favour Homeboyz especially during their home matches at Bukhungu Stadium.The club honcho is said to be powerful to the extend of influencing the appointment of referees with those who towing his line, getting the opportunity to officiate Homeboyz matches.However, speaking shortly after their 1-0 win over Vihiga Bullets at the Bukhungu Stadium on Wednesday, Shimanyula asked those with evidence of bribing officials to come forth and table it to the Caretaker Committee. Football stakeholders cry foul on officiating in Kenyan leagues amid claims of match fixingThe administrator noted that his side had been on the receiving end of poor officiating just like the other teams who have been up in the arms with the nature of calls by referees.”Those who have the evidence that I have been bribing officials should come out publicly and at the same time, table it before the Caretaker Committee. The matches are played during the day and most of them are recorded. In this regard, I challenge those who feel that I have an hand with the calls made by referees to show it. In fact, I have seen referees show bias against Homeboyz, “he said.Shimanyula further told off his critics for engaging in what he termed as side shows and politics instead of focusing on bettering their teams and fighting for the objectives they have for the season. “We have been winning and losing matches just like any other team out there. They can continue talking and shouting, the Homeboyz fraternity has no time for politics. We are fully focused on bringing the league title to Kakamega. We recruited well in the transfer window and I work hard in my business to pay the players on time. I always part with Ksh 230,000 in allowances when the team gets a win, ” he said.Moses Mudavadi is our player of the month for February.Well in Captain! pic.twitter.com/bUjioTiK8T— Kakamega Homeboyz FC (@FcHomeboyz) March 9, 2022 Shimanyula’s sentiments were backed by the club’s head coach Bernard Mwalala who termed the allegations as baseless that would potentially dent their title hopes. ” Such allegations are baseless and are meant to distract us from our goal which is to be on top of the table by the end of the season. Our opponents talk about penalties awarded to us, for me, our attacking style of play forces opponents to commit fouls in their own area and the referees do the right thing by awarding us penalties. It is unfortunate that football administrators can opt to tarnish our name over allegations that they cannot substantiate,” said the former Nzoia Sugar coach. Homeboyz management under Cleophas shimanyula they’re top Kenyan clubs should benchmark no single day players go on strike due to payment and allowances— Elvis Okoth(IT TECHNICIAN) (@ElvisOkoth10) December 24, 2021 Mwalala in the meantime observed his team had been treated unfairly by referees in some instances but elected to remain focused on the fight to win the league title. “Officiating problems cut across all teams, there is a match in which we conceded a goal in the 45+7 minute when the added time indicated by the fourth official was four minutes, there are penalties and fouls that we believe we deserved but were not awarded but we have not come out to accuse anyone. We lost to Talanta and dropped points at home against teams like Nzoia, we were actually lucky to get a point against Nzoia. When we drop points we do not point fingers at anyone.That fan attendance in Bukhungu today💥#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/V19ueswMTl— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) March 9, 2022 He added, “These people accusing us haven’t won all their other matches. If indeed we were favored when playing against them, why haven’t they won all their other league assignments? he posed.
