Not yet Uhuru for KPA in Equity semis debacle

The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league playoff semis Game Five match between former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Equity Dumas will be replayed. 

The federation, through its Secretary General (SG) Ambrose Kisoi, released its verdict following a protest by the bankers concerning the conduct of home fans in Game Four and Five played at Makande.

Dumas had won the first two games in Nairobi and needed one win to seal a maiden final berth.

KPA, however, overturned the result leveling the series 2-2 and were leading 50-38 at the end of the third quarter as per the scoresheet of the day before Dumas walked off with 59 seconds on the clock and the score reading 66-54 in favour of the home team.

In email communications to the SG, fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko and the fixtures committee where he sits as the chair, Equity Dumas team manager Zadock Adika wrote an email addressing fan trouble in Makande and asked the federation to take action. 

After the Game Five match that the Dumas walked out on with 59 seconds left to play, Adika, again wrote another letter detailing the conduct of fans. 

" (sic)The issue was worse today with players getting into the court whenever they want and even hitting our player to prevent him from going for a fast break. During a timeout, the same fan entered the court and poured some liquid on to the ball and sat on the ball. This are just a few of the incidents that made the game to be difficult to continue," read part on his letter. 

A source who sought anonymity revealed to Mozzart Sport that both the Dumas and KPA team managers who are part of the league and competitions committe, that sat down to deliberate on the issue, were excluded due to conflict of interest. The Committee then gave its recommendations to the executive who reached the decision for a replay. 

In their verdict, the federation adjudged the two teams to have flouted KBF and FIBA rules. KPA are said to have gone against the KBF League and Competitions rules clause 16 (b). 

Clause 16 (a) states, 'It shall be duty of the Federation to ensure that proper safety arrangements are made for the visiting team, Referees, Commissioners and table officials during league games.' 

Part (b) goes on to say, "If the ground requires security protection, to stop spectators from interfering with the game, it shall be the duty of the home team to provide such security and if not provided and the referee stops the game, the home team may lose the match by default." 

On their part Dumas were in violation of FIBA Official Basketball Rules Art 20 (20.1.3). The forfeiture rules state, a team shall lose the game by forfeit if; (1)The team is not present or is unable to field 5 players ready to play 15 minutesafter the game is scheduled to begin. (2) Its actions prevent the game from being played. (3)It refuses to play after being instructed to do so by the crew chief.

Efforts to reach the SG to clarify whether the referees of the day, in their report, had indicated inability to control the crowd leading to stoppage of the match were futile.