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Kenya/Eritrea: Soccer - Tusker's Blow As CAF Says Decision Final
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The Nation (Nairobi)
20 February 2008
Posted to the web 19 February 2008
Nation Correspondent
Nairobi
Tusker's hopes of having their Africa Champions League clash against Eritrea's Al Tahrir rescheduled have been dashed after the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) said Tuesday that their decision was final.
Tusker and the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) had planned to lodge an appeal over the last minute cancellation of the first round, first leg match that was to be played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani last Saturday.
But Tuesday, the brewers got a rude shock when Caf manager of club competitions, Essam Ahmed, said in a letter that Al Tahrir had been promoted to the second round and will now face Egypt's Al Ahly.
Still have to pay dues
The letter from Caf to KFF secretary-gereral, Sammy Obingo, stated: "Kindly be informed that the decision of the disqualification of your club "Tusker" from the inter-clubs (Africa Champions League) competition 2008 had been taken by Caf Executive Committee on its meeting held in Accra on February 9, 2008 due to the fact that your federation (KFF) did not respect the several deadlines to settle its financial arrears towards CAF in conformity with our previous reminders sent to you on December and January 2008.
"Hence, we confirm hereby that your Club Tusker FC is disqualified from the 12th Edition of CAF Champions League 2008 and the club Al Tahrir has therefore qualified for the next round of this competition. "This decision is final."
Essam said that even with the disqualification of Tusker FC, KFF will still have to pay its dues to the continental body.
Sabotage claims
"We would like to inform you that all financial aspects related to this cancelled match will be dealt with by Caf organising committee for inter-clubs competitions in its next meeting." But KFF chairman, Mohammed Hatimy, said Tuesday that there were people at the Cairo-based Caf office who were out to sabotage his office.
"We paid the money on Monday February 11 and we were shocked to be told that the match was not going to be played. We demand an explanation from CAF," said Hatimy.
Caf disqualified Kenya for failing to pay a debt of Sh455,000. Four other countries - Rwanda, Chad, Central African Republic and Sierra Leone - were also disqualified for various reasons but Rwanda which is represented in the club competitions committee sorted out its issues and its club APR allowed to play in the Champions League.
KFF say they paid the money on February 11, but the Caf letter states that the matter is still pending and will be discussed at its next executive meeting. Questions abound whether KFF actually paid the money or is taking Kenyans for a ride.
On Tuesday, Obingo said KFF would appeal the Caf decision to ban Kenyan clubs from continental competitions as pressure mounted on the federation officials to quit over the fiasco. "KFF wishes to give notice of its intention to protest the disqualification of Tusker FC from the 2008 champions league.
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We are putting our documents together before the protest is sent to you," said a letter by Obingo to CAF.
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