2012 KPL Top 8 Cup

2012 KPL Top 8 Cup
Country  Kenya
Teams 8
Champions Gor Mahia
Runners-up Ulinzi Stars
Matches played 9
Goals scored 24 (2.67 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) James Mulinge
Hadji Mwachoki
Rama Salim
(2 goals each)
Best player Jerim Onyango[1]

The 2012 KPL Top 8 Cup was the second edition of the tournament which ran from 14 March to 19 August 2012. It was contested by the top 8 teams of the 2011 Kenyan Premier League season: A.F.C. Leopards, Chemelil Sugar, Gor Mahia, Rangers, Sofapaka, Sony Sugar, Tusker and Ulinzi Stars.

Ulinzi Stars were the defending champions, having won their first title in the inaugural edition of the tournament, but were denied a second title after losing to champions Gor Mahia in the final.

2011 Kenyan Premier League standings (Top 8)

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Tusker 30 17 7 6 34 17 +17 58 Qualification to 2012 CAF Champions League
2 Ulinzi Stars 30 16 9 5 38 20 +18 57
3 Sofapaka 30 15 7 8 42 23 +19 52
4 Gor Mahia 30 12 12 6 27 22 +5 48 Qualification to 2012 CAF Confederation Cup 1
5 A.F.C. Leopards 30 13 7 10 36 27 +9 46
6 Sony Sugar 30 13 5 12 33 33 0 44
7 Rangers 30 11 10 9 33 31 +2 43
8 Chemelil Sugar 30 10 11 9 30 27 +3 41

Updated to games played on 16 December 2011.
Source: 2011 Kenyan Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1 Gor Mahia as winners of the 2011 FKL Cup qualified for the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Bracket

  Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                               
 Ulinzi Stars 2 (2)  
 Chemelil Sugar 2 (1)  
   Ulinzi Stars 1 2 3  
   Sony Sugar 1 1 2  
 Sofapaka 0
 Sony Sugar 1  
   Ulinzi Stars 0  
   Gor Mahia 2  
 Gor Mahia 2  
 A.F.C. Leopards 0  
   Gor Mahia 1 3 4
   Tusker 0 0 0  
 Tusker 3
 Rangers 2  

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final ties were played between 14 March and 29 July 2012.

Gor Mahia−A.F.C. Leopards match

The Nairobi derby match scheduled for 1 April 2012 was postponed, as Gor Mahia were banned from the Nyayo National Stadium following an incident that led to a riot by Gor fans during another derby match on 18 March 2012.[2] However, A.F.C. Leopards were dissatisfied with the ruling made by the IDCC and opted to drop out of the tournament,[3] but it had been decided that the match would take place on 20 May 2012.[4] Lack of a suitable venue to host the clash led to the match being postponed yet again.[5] Gor Mahia were however allowed to play in the Moi International Sports Centre, allowing for the fixture to be played. The date for the match was confirmed to be 29 July 2012, with the venue as the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.[6][7][8] However, Gor Mahia are yet to have their ban from the Nyayo National Stadium lifted.[9]

Gor Mahia were awarded a walkover an 2 goals for their match after A.F.C. Leopards failed to turn up. The latter were consequently fined KSh 500,000,[10] even though they had previously stated that they would not honour the fixture, citing no consultation of an appropriate date with the KPL and financial problems.[11] However, KPL CEO Jack Oguda had stated that Leopards were to be fined KSh 1.5 million, and may have to pay another KSh 3.5 million fine, linked to the incurred expenses that broadcasters SuperSport could forward to the KPL.[12][13] The Football Kenya Federation, however, suspended the result after, having demanded to be furnished with security measures to be taken for and the rules and regulations governing the tournament, the KPL failed to reply with furnishings.[14] The suspension was lifted on 1 August 2012 after a consultative meeting held between FKF and KPL officials.[15] The FKF also nullified the fine that was imposed on A.F.C. Leopards,[16] after the club released an official press statement explaining the reason why they failed to appear for their match against Gor Mahia.[17]

Fixtures

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played between 2 August and 9 August 2012.[18]

First leg

Second leg

Ulinzi Stars won 3−2 on aggregate.

Gor Mahia won 4−0 on aggregate.

Final

The final was played on 19 August 2012,[19] at the Moi International Sports Centre.

References

  1. ↑ Patrick Korir (19 August 2012). "Gor keeper named MVP". Futaa.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Gor Mahia banned from using Sport stadia facilities". The Standard (Nairobi, Kenya: StandardMedia.co.ke). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "AFC: We are out of Top Eight Tournament". Nairobi, Kenya: Futaa.com. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "New date for AFC-Gor Top 8 clash". Nairobi, Kenya: Futaa.com. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Gor Mahia vs AFC clash postponed". Nairobi, Kenya: Futaa.com. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Brian Moseti (11 July 2012). "The KPL Top Eight tourney set to resume". Futaa.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. ↑ Patrick Korir (16 July 2012). "Date for AFC Leopards – Gor Top 8 clash confirmed". Futaa.com. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "‘Top 8’ match shares focus with crucial weekend league games". KPL.co.ke. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Rodgers Eshitemi (5 July 2012). "Gor back to Kasarani…wait for Nyayo". Futaa.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Rodgers Eshitemi (30 July 2012). "KPL imposes fine on Leopards". Futaa.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  11. ↑ Rodgers Eshitemi (24 July 2012). "Confirmed: AFC will not honor Top Eight fixture". Futaa.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  12. ↑ Jeff Kinyanjui (29 July 2012). "KPL CEO: AFC Leopards will face the consequences". Futaa.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Brian Moseti (29 July 2012). "Gor Mahia handed a win over AFC Leopards". Futaa.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  14. ↑ Rodgers Eshitemi (30 July 2012). "FKF disowns Top 8 result". Futaa.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  15. ↑ Patrick Korir (1 August 2012). "KPL Top 8 to proceed". Futaa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  16. ↑ Patrick Korir (1 August 2012). "FKF nullifies fine slapped on Leopards". Futaa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  17. ↑ Rodgers Eshitemi (25 July 2012). "Leopards come out clear on Top Eight's stand-off". Futaa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Results and games for Top 8 Cup 2012". Futaa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Jeff Kinyanjui (9 August 2012). "Pamzo: We were flat against Gor Mahia". Futaa.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012.

External links