Migori Youth sus**cious of Mara Sugar vs Silibwet results, alleges match-fixing

Migori Youth have claimed there are match-fixing cases within the National Super League.

After losing the third sport on Monday, June 12, 2023, when Mara Sugar defeated Silibwet FC 7-0 in Bomet, Migori have come out to protest the result and claim that that was a fixed match.

"Migori Youth FC management has watched in disbelief the happenings in the National Super League, especially the last round of matches played or scheduled to have been played on Sunday, June 11, 2023, and Monday, June 12, 2023," a statement by the club read.

"On Sunday, we were scheduled to play Kibera Black Stars FC at Migori Stadium, and surprisingly, our opponents never showed up, this being their first walkover ever since they joined the National Super League in 2017/18. By virtue of not showing up, we were awarded the match on a three-point, two-goal basis.

Migori raises red flags

"A day later, on Monday, Mara Sugar FC travelled to Bomet to play Silibwet FC. Mara Sugar FC needed seven goals to leapfrog Migori Youth FC in the league standings, and interestingly, Silbwet FC conceded seven goals, six of those coming in the second half! Suffice it to note that Silibwet FC had already been flagged for match manipulation early in the season."

The Nyanza-based club claimed the cases of fixed matches have increased since there will be no relegations in the second tier.

"We further note with concern that ever since the federation declared that no club in the NSL will be relegated at the end of the season," the statement added.

"There have been trends that border on match manipulation, especially when the fixture involves teams battling for promotion against teams that are at the bottom.

"The teams, especially those at the bottom, with the knowledge that they won’t be relegated, have continued to post questionable results, especially when they come up against the promotion-chasing teams.

Steps to curb match-fixing

To curb the alleged vice, the club wants stringent measures taken against the culprits if they are found.

"As a club that highly values integrity, we are deeply concerned with the recent happenings and with the season now in its homestretch," the statement concluded.

"We call on the federation to safeguard the integrity of this league by instituting thorough investigations, especially in light of the aforementioned results, and taking stern action on any individual or team found guilty of match manipulation. 

"We ask for calm and patience from our fans and football stakeholders at large, even as we await a swift response from the Federation regarding the matter."

Previous match-fixing cases

This is not the first time allegations of match-fixing have come up in the country. Recently, three people, including a Russian, were arraigned in court on allegations they were attempting to fix a match between Sofapaka and Nairobi City Stars.

The three, Akhiad Kubiev, Ugandan Bernard Nabende, and Kenyan Martin Munga Mutua, were later released on bail. They were arrested at Roysambu ahead of the match that had been scheduled to take place at Kasarani.

Zoo FC were also embroiled in cases of match-fixing after they were found guilty of match manipulation by FIFA.

Four former Kakamega Homeboyz players were in the past banned by FIFA for engaging in the exercise.

With the new claims made by Migori, who are fighting for a Premier League promotion ticket, eyes are keen to see how the Football Kenya Federation will address the issue, in particular the Mara Sugar vs Silibwet Leons match.

The NSL is experiencing a tight promotion race that also involves Shabana FC and Murang’a Seal, and any dubious result will automatically raise eyebrows.