Presidential decree spares Kisumu Hot Stars' blushes

Were it not for the abrupt suspension of sporting activities, National Super League(NSL) returnees, Kisumu Hot Stars would have dished their second walkover in the 2020-2021 season.

Hot Stars were penciled to hit the road and play debutants Mwatate United in a round of eighteen matches at the Danson Mwanyumba Stadium, Wundanyi on Saturday.

Ordinarily, the Kisumu based club would have traveled on Friday but had to shelve their plan after their efforts to pool finances for the long away trip proved futile by the time President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcements.

"We have tried to look for money from all sources without success. We have no choice other than to gift the hosts three points," said a source from the club who sought anonymity.

Early in the season, Hot Stars inherited a walkover dished by Chemelil Sugar whom they replaced in the league after their pockets ran dry.

The sugar millers who have since sunk into oblivion had handed Modern Coast Rangers free points after failing to travel to Mombasa for a league match. 

The latter apparently bankrolled Chemelil while in their final year in the top flight and was reluctant to give the NSL slot to Hot Stars who were plucked from the Division One league.

Meanwhile, Hot Stars assistant head coach Charles Odera has appealed to the government to introduce another stimulus packages to players drawn from struggling clubs to sustain them in the period sporting activities will be on hold.

Last year, the government through the Ministry of Sports occasionally came to the rescue of players following the lengthy ban on sporting activities and Odera has asked the authorities to assist the players in making ends meet.

"Majority of the players get their livelihoods from the game. Now that they have decided to press the stop button, they should help them get their basic needs," he cried out.

The former Kenyan international regretted that the break will is an unwelcome distraction to their bid to return to the top flight after decades in the cold.

"We had just begun picking up and the boys had their sights on automatic promotion. I hope the break will not last for long as the fitness levels will go down," he rued.