Chaos erupted at Kinoru Stadium in Meru on Sunday as tensions flared during a Kenya Premier League match between Ulinzi Stars and AFC Leopards, leaving fans injured and security forces scrambling.
Frustrated by their team’s dismal performance, a section of AFC Leopards supporters invaded the pitch, demanding accountability from the technical bench after conceding a late goal that sealed their fate.
Speaking to People Sport, Peter Safari, a fan who had traveled from Igembe Central to watch the clash averred, “I’m very disappointed that the match ended this way because we came here to be entertained. In football, there’s winning and losing; AFC Leopards fans should embrace discipline and accept defeat.”
Some fans were left bleeding from injuries while escaping whereas others had to jump over the fences to avoid the chaos.
“I have consumed a lot of tear gas, and we are suffering from headaches. If this is the kind of football we will be watching, we might Change our minds. Even at our local matches, we don’t experience this kind of thing and I urge Football Kenya Federation to ban AFC Leopards fans until they reform,” another fan named Victor Jeshi added.
AFC Leopards had controlled the first half, creating numerous Chances from Ronald Sichenje’s wing but failed to convert them into goals.
Yakeen Mutheli was the game-changer, coming in from the bench to give Ulinzi the lead in the 69th minute.
The last straw for Leopards came from Ulinzi’s skipper Boniface Muchiri, following a good run by Telena Ochieng in the dying minutes.
AFC Leopards head coach Tomas Trucha was rushed out of the venue, surrounded by security officers, as fans threw stones and bottles towards him.
Two casualties were reported, one being a minor who was rushed to LifeCare Hospital and discharged by the end of the day.
The other was a young man who sustained a head injury and was taken to Grace Park Hospital before being transferred to LifeCare for CT scans.
This was Ulinzi’s second home match at Kinoru Stadium after vacating Ulinzi Complex.
