Mathare United have blamed match-fixing for their relegation from the Football Kenya Federation Premier League in the 2022-23 season.
The Slum Boys ended their 25-year stay in the top flight following a poor run of form that saw them win just eight of their 34 games while losing 26.
The writing was on the wall by the halfway point of the season with the club unable to put together a consistent run of positive results and few were surprised when they went down after finishing second from bottom on the 18-team log.
However, while many have blamed the club’s financial woes for the inability to sign quality players to help them navigate the league, club CEO Jecton Obure feels there was enough in the squad to avoid relegation were it not for match-fixing.
“Match-fixing started during the era of the Caretaker Committee (2021-22 season) because people knew there was nowhere they could be taken. It was involving so many people, from match officials, players to club officials,” Obure told Look Up TV.
“We want a law passed in Parliament so that when there is evidence you have fixed matches, you are prosecuted.
“I looked at the goals we were conceding and it was so suspect. You are a defender, you are supposed to defend but when the ball comes, you turn on your back and it’s a goal.
“It is not normal that a team like the one we have at Mathare United could go 11 games without winning. It was suspicious. In this coming season, we need to push Members of Parliament to legislate this.”
With the club now set to feature in the second-tier National Super League, Obure says Mathare have accepted their new reality and started preparations to ensure an instant return to the top flight.
“We are building a new team, from next week we start preseason and we have a plan that after one season, we will be back in the top flight,” he added.
