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Protests have prompted Kenyan fans to urge Vipers SC to cancel a friendly with Kenya Police FC over human rights concerns.
Uganda Premier League giants Vipers SC are facing a wave of criticism from a section of Kenyan football fans who are demanding the cancellation of an upcoming friendly match against Kenya Police FC.
The game, scheduled for Saturday, July 27 at St Mary’s Kitende Stadium in Kampala is part of the inaugural Vipers Day celebrations but has been marred by controversy surrounding the Kenyan team's affiliation with alleged human rights violations.
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13:00 - 21.07.2024
Why Kenya Police were chosen by Vipers for pre-season friendly in Uganda
Vipers SC will face Kenya Police FC in a pre-season friendly at St Mary's Stadium in Kitende as part of Vipers Day.
A vocal group of fans has taken to the social media platform X to express their discontent.
In a widely shared poster, they laid out their concerns, stating: "Vipers Football Club, you are planning to play Kenya Police FC, an outfit that's associated with a police community that has been perpetuating brutal killings and murders of innocent protestors. That shows you support atrocities against human rights.
"We are calling on your club to cancel this planned friendly in support of football fans' voice against outfits that don't respect human rights."
The call for action did not stop at just one game; the fans' message also urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to kick Kenya Police FC and Kenya Police Bullets out of continental competitions.
"We also ask other football clubs to do the same. The two teams also need to be kicked out of CAF competitions," it adds.
Kenya Police FC earned their spot in the friendly by securing third place in the FKF Premier League and clinching the FKF Cup after a dramatic 8-7 post-match penalty shootout against KCB.
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Their participation in the CAF Confederations Cup is seen as a significant achievement for the club.
However, the recent civil unrest in Kenya, sparked by controversial government policies and exacerbated by harsh police responses, has cast a shadow over the team's affiliations and by extension their engagements on the international sports stage.
Kenya has been the scene of significant protests, which escalated last month over a proposed finance bill introducing controversial tax hikes.
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The situation intensified to the point of protestors storming parliament, leading to a temporary withdrawal of the bill by President Ruto.
Despite these concessions, dissatisfaction remains high, fueled by what many see as brutal and disproportionate responses by the police to civil demonstrations.
Vipers SC, while looking to use the friendly as a way to entertain fans and fine-tune their squad for the 2024/25 season, now finds themselves at the center of a geopolitical issue that transcends sports.
The friendly was also intended to strengthen the relations between the two clubs and enhance their brands across the continent.
Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates.
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