Veteran coach Edward Manoah slams reported fraud in secondary school games

For years, the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) games have been a reliable breeding ground for future football stars, supplying talent into the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) and the second-tier National Super League (NSL) among other tiers.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsThe likes of Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, Joseph Okumu, Alpha Chris Onyango, Aldrine Kibet, and Harambee Stars U20 captain Amos Wanjala are among the many who have emerged from vibrant school football ecosystem, nurtured through a system that spans from zonal competitions to the East Africa championship stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_9007283##However, concerns are now mounting over the integrity of the tournament, with a surge in cases involving the use of ineligible players, bans, and controversial decisions that threatens its credibility.It is not rare to see schools pointing accusing fingers and dragging each other before a jury challenging the fielding of ineligible players, commonly known as Mamlukis, or forgery.Veteran tactician Edward Manoah has raised the alarm, terming school games as an avenue where the “normalisation of fraud,” has been thriving unchallenged.Manoah, a man who does not mince his words, warned that coaches and scouts are beginning to look elsewhere for untapped talent.“The school games have been “corrupted” and lost their original intention. Scouts and coaches will be forced to find alternative avenues for talent identification,” alleged Manoah, who currently manages FKFPL side Mara Sugar.Top performers recognized at Mara Sugar gala“That is why I still insist we cannot use secondary school Term Two games as a foundation for football development. Fraud has been legalised and rewarded at this level. We need a serious mindset shift to unlock our football potential in Kenya,” Manoah told Mozzart Sport.His sentiments come amid widespread controversy in the 2025 KSSSA Term Two football calendar, with several counties experiencing game postponements and eligibility disputes.##NAJAVA_MECA_9007120##In Kisumu County, Kisumu Day High School had seemingly exited the competition two weeks ago after a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Onjiko High School in the semi-finals following a 1-1 draw in regular time.However, a twist emerged as Onjiko were banned for three years for fielding ineligible players, granting Kisumu Day a return to the competition.The drama continued as Kisumu Boys, who had earlier appealed a 1-0 group stage loss to Onjiko, also got a reprieve as the ruling reshuffled the standings.Bob Oyugi urges Benni McCarthy to tap local coaching talent ahead of CHANIn Kakamega County, Butere Boys were controversially declared champions after the Ministry of Education nullified Musingu Boys’ 2-0 victory in the county final held on June 21 in Mumias.The decision followed Kakamega High School’s appeal, challenging the authenticity of documents submitted by Musingu, who had earlier ousted Kakamega on penalties in the semis.Similar disputes and suspensions have been reported in West Pokot, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, and other regions, casting a shadow over the regional finals scheduled from July 8 to 12 in Western and Nyanza.

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