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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue May 03 2011 - 09:30:59 EDT
http://www.sportsnewsarena.com/?Kenya-s-U23-handed-a-lifeline-as-Eritrea-withdraws.html
Kenya’s U23 handed a lifeline as Eritrea withdraws
Apr 28, 2011-
When Eritrea beat Kenya 4-1 in a first leg All-Africa games qualifier, the
whole country was in an uproar.
The poor result cost former coach Bob Oyugi his job as Football Kenya
cracked the whip.
However with two days before the return leg match, Eritrea have pulled out
handing Kenya a place in the second round of the competition.
The Eritrea Football Association wrote to Football Kenya on Thursday
indicating their inability to honor the return match.
The association claims they were informed late about the return date even
though it was well known way before that the match would be played any day
beginning from Friday April 29 to April 30 in accordance with the CAF
calendar for international matches.
According to Eritrea National Federation Secretary General M Ghidey said in
a letter to FKL.”We hold the view that this short notice besides
contradicting rules stipulated by CAF left us with no time to organise our
flight on time to Nairobi.”
The match was supposed to be played this Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium
according Football Kenya who were ready for the fixture.
The Eritrea FA official said they have forwarded their concerns to CAF with
regards to the withdrawal.
He also complained that they had had problems organising the first leg match
when Kenya arrived late in Eritrea and were forced to incur extra expenses.
But Football Kenya head of technical committee Hussein Swaleh denied the
accusations by Eritrea claiming they were using it as an excuse not to play
the return match.
“It is obvious they are afraid of us after learning that we have
strengthened the team with new players. They knew all along when the match
will be played and should have made arrangements to travel to Nairobi,” he
said.
Swaleh said they will seek CAF’s word on the way forward over the matter.
Should Kenya be awarded a walkover they will play either Uganda or Tanzania.
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