Wangamati Cup regrets

In summary;

• Complaints
• How money was used
• Poaching
• Unsatisfied talent scouts
• Tournament episodes
• Prizes
• #ikuweikuwe corner

The images of Dennis Wanjala a Kibichori FC player and a form four student at Sichei Secondary school sitting at the Chwele hospital is what prompted ikuweikuwe.com to do this article. Dennis got an injury while playing in a 7million Wangamati Cup 2020 tournament against Umoja FC at Mukhweya ground on 10/12/2020, a game Umoja FC won with a single goal.

Dennis got a serious knee injury that saw him carried off the pitch in the second half before a good Samaritan and Kibichori resident Mr. Nalianya took him to Nzoia Medical Centre – Chwele branch for treatment. The kind DCC who works in Kisii also paid Kshs. 3,000 for drugs and treatment but an X-ray was not done. Dennis was then allowed to go home but after a week he realized that his leg was swelling prompting him to visit Chwele hospital (a county govt facility) where the institution refused to examine him until he pays registration fee. His attempt to get the organizer of the games Mrs. Jentrix Ndinyo the Chwele/Kabuchai ward administrator bore no fruits for she told him to foot the bills for the county had not facilitated her for such. Dennis was forced to turn to well-wishers led by one Joshua Makata who paid for; X-ray 800, Drugs 1370, Bandage 900, plaster 1500

I regret ever participating in that tournament

~ Dennis ~

Juma Ramadhan from Mjini village in Bungoma town broke his left leg while praying for Arcus FC on 5th Dec 2020 making it impossible for him to go back to University when it reopened. The County government of Bungoma officials refused to assist settle medical bills and/or waiver the entire bill. Juma is still at home nursing his broken leg.

The County had ambulance(s) stationed at some fields but they were inadequately furnished. In fact, medical personnel deployed to the matches wondered why they were deployed in the first place

The bottled water used throughout the tournament are alleged to have been donated by various business entities throughout the county

How money was used;

Using what one ward got as a sample (assuming every ward received the same amount) means minus allowances for CECs, COs and Governor who were assumed to have attended every much;

• 10,000/= for refreshments, x45= 450,000
• 3 footballs (say @2,000) x45 = 270,000
• 3,500/= for first-aid for two days x45 =157,000/=
• Referees were paid 1,000 per day x2x45 = 315,000/=

POACHING;

Teams poached players from other counties… For example, there are allegations that Olympic that won the women football poached a whopping 10 players from TransNzoia County. The tournament organizers had put in place NO mechanism to authenticate citizenship of players.

UNSATISFIED TALENT SCOUTS;

The Nzoia Sugar Company and National talent academy officials who witnessed the finals at Amutalla Stadium – Kimilili town with a view of selecting talents for the purposes of nurturing them did not pick any. Pundits say the reason they saw no talent is because the primaries were done via Knock-outs and not league basis… Teams who lost their first match at ward level exited the tournament. Mr Wanyama (not his real name) a referee in the tournament says we lost good talents at primaries just by testing their ability in a single game… it takes two to three games to realize a talent, what I witnessed looked to me as a way of just spending money on entertainment

TOURNAMENT EPISODES;

Sunday, 6th December, 2020;

Bungoma County Governor, Wycliffe Wangamati launched a County sports tournament where teams from all the 45 wards were expected to participate with overall winners took home cash prizes in final matches that were earlier scheduled for December 31st 2020 but took place on 4^th Jan 2021 due to confusion, poor planning and carelessness on the part of organizers.

The governor’s communication team posted…

“Themed “Spoti na Kazi”, the teams shall be competing in Four disciplines that include soccer, athletics, volleyball and Marathon for both men and women with the winners at the finals to be held in kimilili being promised Sh.1Milllion.

Speaking during the launch held at Nabing’eng’e TTI sports ground in Milima Ward, Tongaren Sub county, Governor Wangamati underscored the value of sports in bringing youth together so as to share development ideas for the inclusive growth of the county”

28-12-2020; Gov. Wycliffe Wangamati presided over the pooling of teams participating in Governor Wangamati Sports Tournament ahead of play-offs that kick off on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 and run up to Sunday, January 3, 2021. The Governor said the event, which shall be annual shall be expanded to accommodate more sports including Rugby, basketball, hockey among others.

 2-1-2021; Amutalla Stadium (in pictures) during Governor Wangamati Sports Tournament football quarterfinals.

4-1-2021; The finals of Governor Wangamati Sports Tournament at Amutallah Stadium in Kimilili

Gov. Wangamati took part in the 10km run

Next Wangamati Sports tournament is scheduled for end of this year 2021 December.

Prizes;

FINALS;

• Winner; Toloso FC – Sirisia – Kshs. 350,000/= and a trophy, Wangamati added 50,000/=
• 1st Runner-Up; Classic FC – Kimilili – Kshs. 200,000/= and a trophy
• 2^nd Runner-up; Bituyu FC – Kimilili – Kshs. 100,000/= and a trophy
• 3^rd Runner-up; Zero money and a trophy

WARD primaries;

• Winner; 10,000/= and a bottle of water
• Runner-up; 5,000/= and a bottle of water

NOTE; 16 teams, 2 days shared;

• 10,000/= for refreshments for all teams for 2 days,
• 3 footballs which were repossessed after the game,
• 3,500/= for first-aid for two days
• Referees were paid 1,000 per day

SUBCOUNTY;

• Winner; 20,000/=
• Runner-up; 15,000/=

N/B: Webuye East and Bumula Sub county football match winners and runners-up got 40,000 and 30,000 each respectively since the matches were graced by the Governor Wangamati

#iKUWEiKUWE Corner

• The tournament was a brilliant idea implemented awkwardly
• 7,000,000/= was PURPORTEDLY used on this tournament
• Clearly money was misappropriated here… about 4million was used here
• When the assembly demanded to be served with a detailed plan for this event, the executive turned a blind eye to it,,, Issues such as treatment for injured players was raised by Hon. Musebe Fredrick but were ignored.
• At the end of matches governor Wangamati graced he’d line up spectators and dish out 100/= each, a move that has been seen to be the main agenda of the tournament to revive his popularity on the ground
• What treatment/drugs did Dennis receive at Nzoia Mediical Centre – Chwele costing 3,000/= if an X-ray was not inclusive?

On 31^st Dec 2020 iKUWEiKUWE posted this;  ·

• *Wangamati-Mashinani-Sports tournament teams stranded after yesterday’s 30th Dec 2020 pool games*
• NO Lunch for ALL teams (soda na mkate)
• No means of transport for most teams after the only vehicle available was impounded by police
• Nzoia pool
• Bokoli MCA and MP Dan Wanyama bought lunch for the team… After the County FAILED to provide any by 3pm
• Sirisia – Players stranded:
• By 9pm they were still at the playing ground not knowing how to get home
• No County vehicle was available… Most players had to seek accommodation around risking having domestic issues for those in marriage
• Referees earned 500/= per game at ward level, now they earn 250/= at Subcounty level… Books show a different scenario: refs earned 1000 per game at ward level and 2000 to be earned at subcounty per game… With 3000 for the finals
• NO single uniform was provided as promised by Wangamati forcing teams to use own uniforms
• Water, the only item provided had some bottles removed from the batches… AGAIN, Water was a DONATION from a known businessman
• ALL this is happening while County funds are being chewed left right and centre… 7million was allocated to this tournament

#eDDUHSimiyu

#iKUWEiKUWE