Nairobi City Stars suspend key player over match-fixing claims

FKFPL Nairobi City Stars suspend key player over match-fixing claims

Kiplagat Sang 14:15 - 10.05.2023

The striker has been given conditions to adhere to and failure to, will force the club will go public over the matter.

Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Nairobi City Stars have suspended Ezekiel Odera over allegations of match-fixing.

The former AFC Leopards forward has been identified as one of the players who could be taking part in manipulating the matches.

Recently, three suspects – including a Russian - were arraigned in court over claims they were planning to manipulate a match between City Stars and Sofapaka.

"Information reaching the Nairobi City Stars management is that you are allegedly part of an elaborate scheme to manipulate the club’s league matches," a letter – sent to the forward – and obtained by Pulse Sports, read.

"I wish to take note of our meeting held at City Stars’ offices on April 30 where you confirmed you had been doing an ‘investigation’ on match-fixing/manipulation in the team by approaching some players.

"Considering the club management never sanctioned your ‘investigations’ and had no knowledge of the same, your actions power the allegations that you are indeed involved in match-fixing within the club."

The suspension means the former Western Stima striker will not take part in any training sessions or any activity related to the club while awaiting the findings of an investigation sanctioned by the club.

"You are immediately and indefinitely suspended from Nairobi City Stars pending the completion and outcome of the investigations, and in that period, you will distance yourself from the club training grounds, official matches, and from making any direct contact with any team players or personnel on the technical bench," the letter continued."

Odera has also been given orders that he needs to comply with.

"While serving the suspension, you are expected to fully collaborate with the investigations, and you will be required to; name and provide contacts for all your accomplices outside City Stars," the letter added.

"Name all persons you made contact with during your ‘investigations’ and whom you collaborate with in City Stars; provide a list of all City Stars games that have been manipulated or are earmarked for manipulation, provide information on how the games have been manipulated and the amounts involved.

"The above must be shared with the club [in written form] through the team coordinator [Samson Otieno] by the close of business on Tuesday, May 9. You also have the chance to prove to the club beyond any doubt that you are not part of the allegations by the same date."

Should Odera fail to comply, City Stars said they will go public over the matter.

"Note that failure to collaborate will leave the club with no option but to go public on your suspension and link match-fixing with an official statement," the letter signed by the club’s CEO Patrick Korir concluded.