The 2012 FKF Division One was the inaugural season of FKF Division One and the 49th second division season since it began in 1963. It began on 3 March with Kariobangi Sharks and Congo JMJ United in Zone A and on the same date with Kakamega Homeboyz and Kisumu Municipal in Zone B, and ended on 18 November with Nairobi Stima and MOYAS in Zone A and on the same date with Timsales and Yanga in Zone B.
Compared to the 2010 season of the then Nationwide League, the 2011 season of the FKL and KFF Nationwide League was considered to be a lot better because of major improvements in integrity of referees and playing surfaces. The major complaints of occurrences in 2010 were significantly reduced after the establishment of the NFL Oversight Committee, which closely monitored Football Kenya Limited's running of the league.
Halfway through the season (after 19 matches), Kakamega Homeboyz had been unbeaten with a record of 10-9-0 (10 wins, 9 draws, no losses). They would have become only the second club in Kenya to complete an unbeaten season, after Gor Mahia in the 1976 Kenya National Football League, but were beaten 1−0 against Nakuru AllStars on 22 July 2012, ending their unbeaten record of 23 games. On the other hand, H.B.C. Mlimani hadn't won a single match after 19 games (with a record of 0-3-16: no wins, 3 draws, 16 losses) and were en route to becoming the first club in Kenya and only the fifth in modern football to complete a domestic season without winning a match. However, through a walkover they were awarded over Yanga on 29 September 2012, their winless run of 28 games came to an end.
On 31 August, Mathare Youth disbanded and therefore pulled out of the league, after which the FKF decided to scrap all of their second round results. This meant that all teams that had played against Mathare Youth had their points revoked or given back, depending on the results of the matches, and all upcoming fixtures involving Mathare Youth were cancelled. As a result, the season would end with every other team having played 37 games instead of 38, and the total number of matches would add up to 361, 19 games less than the usual 380.
Since the league had 19 teams left, in accordance with an FKF ruling, this meant that the 16th-placed team was also to be relegated according to the rules of the league.
As of 7 October 2012, Yanga, having 10 points with 6 matches left to play, are to be relegated at the end of the season as 18 possible points from 6 possible wins would level them with Comply, who are also in the relegation zone. H.B.C. Mlimani, having 6 points with 7 matches left to play, are also to be relegated at the end of the season as 21 points from 7 possible wins would ultimately give them 27 points, one less than Comply, as of the same date.
On 4 November 2012, Bandari and Kakamega Homeboyz earned early promotions to the Kenyan Premier League. As of that date, Bandari earned 76 points from 35 matches, 8 points ahead of second-placed Mahakama, who earned 68 points from 36 matches. With 2 matches left to play for the latter, 2 wins would take them to 74 points, which would not be enough to reach the former. Kakamega Homeboyz earned 87 points from 36 matches, also 8 points ahead of the second-placed team, Nzoia United, who earned 79 points from 36 matches. 2 wins from 2 matches left to play for the latter would take them to 85 points, which would not be enough to reach the former. However, third-placed Agrochemical, with 78 points from 35 matches, can catch up to the leaders, but with a +29 goal difference, they would have to score 25 goals in and win their remaining 3 matches to reach the top of the table.
Changes from last season
After the 2011 season, the FKL Nationwide League and the KFF Nationwide League were fused, meaning that two teams were to be promoted and four relegated, and that only two from the Provincial Leagues could be promoted due to the current format of having two zones of 16 teams each.
From FKL and KFF Promoted to Premier League Muhoroni Youth Oserian
Relegated to Provincial League Annex 07 Kiambaa United Makarios Nanyuki Opera Real Kisumu Strathmore University
To Division One Relegated from Premier League Bandari Congo JMJ United
Promoted from Division Two Coast United G.F.C. 105 Green Berets Kakamega Homeboyz West Kenya Sugar (promoted as Kabrass United) Zoo Kericho
Teams
Stadia and locations
Zone A locations Zone A clubs are from the Nairobi, Central, Eastern and Coast provinces. Club Home stadium Town/CityAdministration PoliceHope Centre NairobiAdmiralMbaraki Stadium MombasaBandariMombasa Municipal StadiumBidco UnitedDel Monte Grounds ThikaCoast UnitedTudor Sports Ground MombasaCongo JMJ UnitedMombasa Municipal StadiumGatundu StarsJuja Premier Grounds JujaGreen BeretsPSTC Ruiru RuiruIron StrikersApostle Grounds MombasaKariobangi SharksNairobi City Stadium NairobiKenya Revenue AuthorityHope CentreKibera CelticWoodley GroundsKSL Thola GlassKenya School of LawLigi NdogoLigi Ndogo GroundsMagongo RangersRefinery Grounds MombasaMahakamaNairobi City Stadium NairobiMathare YouthRuaraka Sports GroundMOYASNairobi City StadiumNairobi StimaSparki YouthRefinery Grounds Mombasa
Zone B locations Zone B teams are from the Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces. Club Home stadium Town/cityAgrochemicalMuhoroni Stadium MuhoroniComplyAfraha Stadium NakuruFinlays HorticultureKingfisher Grounds NaivashaG.F.C. 105The Discipleship Grounds EldoretH.B.C. Milimani Homa BayKakamega HomeboyzBukhungu Stadium KakamegaKarunguSori Grounds Homa BayKisumu MunicipalMoi Stadium KisumuLongonot HorticultureKingfisher Grounds NaivashaNakuru AllStarsAfraha Stadium NakuruNzoia UnitedSudi Stadium BungomaOutgrowersUnknown stadium BusiaRushBukhungu Stadium KakamegaShabana KisiiGusii Stadium KisiiSOIN FluorsparFluorspar Ground Kerio ValleyTimsales ElburgonUtawalaAfraha Stadium NakuruWest Kenya Sugar1Bukhungu Stadium KakamegaYangaNyahururu Stadium NyahururuZoo KerichoGreen Stadium Kericho 1 Kabrass United changed their name back to West Kenya Sugar to promote their club sponsors of the same name.
Managerial changes As of July 22, 2012. + Zone ATeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentGatundu Stars Shadrack AtekaResignedJune 201212thReinstatedJuly 2012Ligi Ndogo Ibrahim MbikaloSent to coach U16 team18 April 20125th Mike Kamure13 May 2012Mahakama Peter AmbetsaSackedJuly 20124th Ezekiel Akwana9 July 2012 +Zone BTeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentKarungu Bernard KizitoSackedN/A Henry Adero24 May 2012West Kenya SugarN/A Nick Yakhama5 July 2012
Sparki Youth scandals
Coast United match cancellation Sparki Youth and Coast United were punished by the FKF through a deduction of 1 point and 1 loss added to their tallies for willingly deciding not to face each other on 1 May, after it was first believed that the FKF had postponed the match.
Admiral referee assault During their match against Admiral on 22 September, main referee Martin Wekesa was knocked on his genitalia, after which he was further assaulted and left hospitalised by a group of individuals just as he was about to show a red card to Sparki Youth striker Tobias Baraza for a second bookable offence. By the time the match was abandoned in the 88th minute, Admiral were leading 1−0 following a penalty scored by Roosevelt Blaty in the 63rd minute. Following the attacks, the FKF's National Executive Committee held a meeting on 26 September to decide on the fate of the match and punishment to be given. Admiral were awarded a win with 3 points and their 1-goal, while the following individuals in contract at Sparki Youth were punished as follows: Name Position in club Sentences Player 1-year ban from football activities Assistant coach Life ban from football activities Player 1-year ban from football activities Technical director 1-year ban from football activities Player 1-year ban from football activitiesSparki YouthClub 6 point deduction Medical bills directed to Martin Wekesa to be covered by club's budget All remaining home fixtures to be played at the Mbaraki Stadium
Mohammed Kheri had since spoken out on his innocence in the assault, saying he tried to shield the referee and even gave him first aid and called for a car to rush him to hospital. No formal appeal, however, has been submitted to the FKF so far.
League tables and results
Zone A
Zone B
Top scorers
Zone A
RankPlayerClubGoals 1 Roosevelt BlatyAdmiral 32 2 Michael KhamatiAdministration Police 28 3 Timothy OtienoCongo JMJ United 21 4 Vincent OkothLigi Ndogo 13 5 Shabaan KengaBandari 12 6 Eric MmatsiMahakama 11 7 Ambrose KamauMahakama 10 8 Kevince OchiengKSL Thola Glass 9 John NjorogeLigi Ndogo Charles PilipiliMahakama Tobias BarazaSparki Youth Lucky Eme Last updated: 18 November 2012
Zone B
RankPlayerClubGoals 1 Valen Semi MaheroNzoia United 26 2 Benlee JumaFinlays Horticulture 18 3 Dennis MukaisiKakamega Homeboyz 17 4 Sebastian MucheraNakuru AllStars 16 Oliver OmondiSOIN Fluorspar 6 John MwitaAgrochemical 15 Stephen WakhanyaWest Kenya Sugar 8 Kennedy MathikoUtawala 14 9 Brian MandelaNakuru AllStars 11 Vincent JumaNzoia United Kenneth RonoSOIN Fluorspar Last updated: 18 November 2012
References