KBF men's playoff nullified, SDT orders replay

Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT), has ordered the nullification of the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) playoffs results and a repeat of the same in a rulling delivered on Wednesday 15 June. 

In a case filed at the SDT, former Kenya Morans head Covid-19 protocol Dennis 'Dikembe' Opiyo via an application dated the 13 April 2022, had called for the disqualification of Ulinzi Warriors in the playoffs and the then ongoing playoffs be declared null and void.

The application cited Warriors' being allowed to play Kenya Morans forward Valentine Nyakinda, who has since left the side, in the playoffs as against the competition rules as he had not played the required three matches for the side. 

His application, that was mentioned on Tuesday, 19 April before the Tribunal, had also called on the tribunal to order KBF to restart the 2021 national men’s playoffs in accordance with the rules.

In their ruling, the Tribunal, while acknowledging that the petition had merit, ruled that KBF violated the League and Competition rules thus declaring the concluded Playoffs null and void. 

KBF men's final hits yet another snag

Invoking clause 10(b), the results of the match between Ulinzi and Lakeside, who faced off in the playoff quarters, has been awarded to the latter. 

Warriors is therefore set to be fined in accordance with the League and Competition rules. The federation's league and competition rules clause 10 on ineligibility states that; 

"If the team fielding the ineligible player loses the fixture, the result shall stand and the club shall be fined as may be determined by the League Committee and ratified by the Executive Committee. 

If the team fielding the ineligible player wins the fixture, then the result shall be declared void and automatically defaulted 20-0. The club shall be fined as may be determined by the League Committee and ratified by the Executive Committee," the rules read. 

KBF men's final to continue as planned

The federation has further been ordered to restart the playoffs from the points Lakeside awarded the win against Ulinzi and further meet the costs of restarting the playoffs and the costs of the petition. 

SDT has further recommended full investigations pertaining to an alleged forgery of a scoresheet. The scoresheet in question is for a match between the soldiers and Embakassi Youth (EMYBA), which was given as a walkover. In the scoresheet, Nyakinda's name was included giving him the minimum three matches that allowed him to represent Ulinzi in the playoffs.