Vihiga coach Mafuta cries for justice days after assault by 'chairman'

Vihiga Bullets tactician Evans Mafuta is crying out for justice after a man masquerading as the club chairman assaulted him on 20th of October following the club’s 3-0 home loss to Kariobangi Sharks at Bukhungu stadium.

Hussein Kiharangwa, a local wheeler dealer in Vihiga County is alleged to have descended on Mafuta with kicks and blows immediately after the game accusing the tactician of naivety leading to the team’s poor performance.

Kiharangwa has widely been believed to be Vihiga Bullets chairman and got easy access to Mafuta owing to the many free passes he gets as the 'chairman'. Club chief executive officer Collins Juma, however, distanced the club from the man he termed a hooligan.

Mafuta is still hunting for his first victory since taking charge of the top-flight debutants who were promoted to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) as runners up in last season’s National Super League (NSL).

“I was attacked and beaten by a man I thought was my club chairman. Since then I reported to the police and Kenya National Coaches Association (KENFOCA) but nothing has happened so far. The club through CEO took up the matter but I’m still waiting to see what actions will be taken. I did not commit any crimes to warrant such a beating and I pray that justice prevails because the one who attacked me is prominent here and did it in broad daylight,” a distraught Mafuta said on Monday

An unholy conspiracy of silence kicked in after the assault as witnesses and individuals in authority feign ignorance of the assault.

Vihiga Bullets is owned by Reverend Moses Akaranga, the former governor of Vihiga County. Calls to Akaranga went unanswered as well as that of FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

KENFOCA issued a lame statement condemning the act while Kenya Football Coaches Association (KEFOCA) chaired by Ricky Solomon and Bobby Oyugi had no idea of the assault.

Vihiga Bullets CEO Collins Juma distanced the club from Kiharangwa and promised to pursue the matter to logical conclusion. “The assault happened by hooligans and we regret that it happened. We have reported to the police in Kakamega and Mbale but we are waiting for their feedback which should be this week,” Juma explained

The alleged perpetrator, Kiharangwa, is said to be angling for a political position within Vihiga County. Juma said he is only the chairman of Vihiga Bullets fans but not a club official.

“We do not have a position of chairman in Vihiga Bullets but we have a patron and directors. The hooligans who assaulted our coach were just fans and not officials. On that particular day we had ten police officers but the hooligans used small gaps and got to the coach,” Juma expounded 

FKFPL manager David Thiru quickly hung up the phone when asked about the incident.