Shimanyula criticised for running away with FKF Cup trophy leaving players with no celebrations

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FOOTBALL Shimanyula criticised for running away with FKF Cup trophy leaving players with no celebrations

Mark Kinyanjui 10:04 - 03.07.2023

Homeboyz beat Tusker 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Kevin Amwayi to gift them their only FKF Cup title.

Former Kenya international Boniface Ambani has criticized Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula for failing to organize a celebration party in Kakamega to commemorate their FKF Cup victory.

Homeboyz beat Tusker 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Kevin Amwayi to gift them not only their first-ever win, but also qualification to next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

However, the players travelled back to Kakamega without the trophy as Shimanyula brought it back to the town privately.

This exasperated Ambani who believes the players should have been given “a hero's welcome”, instead coming back “as if they were attending a funeral” with no fanfare.

“Kakamega Homeboyz chairman takes off with the trophy after the win in Nairobi, and leaves players to travel without the coveted trophy back home. Hizi ni gani sasa?” Ambani rhetorically asked on his Facebook page.

“Heroes can't be celebrated in this style…Homeboyz players arrive the next day (today) coldly in town as if they did nothing. No welcoming party at hand for the boys. Jamani do these leaders in football know what it feels for players to arrive home in pomp and colour after winning a trophy?

“It's the first silverware for the Kakamega-based side and residents were expecting a real welcoming party for the boys. Eiiiiiiih yaaawa.... Seriously?”

Ambani further added that the business tycoon should have hired a group of Isikuti dancers who would then have attracted the whole town into joining in the pomp.

“To the boys congratulations I know what you feel. I have been there. Poleni. Toto you only needed to pay around 50 riders and the entire town will be lit. You only need sukuti dancers and the rest (of the town) would join (in celebrations). Vijana wanaingia Kakamega kama wametoka Kwa Matanga bwaana!”

Homeboyz upset all the odds to lift the trophy last Saturday, slaying Gor Mahia, Tusker, and AFC Leopards en route to winning their first-ever piece of silverware since being founded in 2010.