Zoo Kericho F.C.

Full name Zoo Football Club
Nickname(s) Zoo
Founded 2009
Ground Green Stadium,
Kericho, Kenya
Capacity 3,000
Chairman Kenya Ken Ochieng
Head coach Kenya Sammy Okoth
League Kenya Premier League
Website Club website

Zoo Football Club is a football club based in Kericho County, Kenya. The club first participated in Kenya's top leagueKenya Premier Leaguein 2017,[1] the highest level of the Kenyan football league system.

Zoo FC play their home games at Green Stadium[2] in Kericho town. Zoo FC was founded in 2009 by Kericho based lawyer Ken Ochieng who was also part of the playing unit. It started as a none league outfit consisting of young men from Kericho who played for fun.

After a year, the team was registered to take part in Football Kenya Limited affiliated leagues. It started in FKL Nationwide Division 2 Zone A. The team finished third in the league and failed to secure promotion, leaders Gusii United was the only side that earned promotion.

In 2011, the team was second time lucky and earned promotion to FKF Division One Western Zone league after finishing third in FKL Nationwide two with 110 points. Zoo played in the third tier league for two years before getting promoted to the FKF Division One Zone B league at the end of 2012 season.

Zoo finished fifth in the FKF Division One Zone B League and was subsequently promoted to the National Super League for 2014 season.

The 2014 season proved more fruitful as the team topped National Super League (NSL) Zone B for the better part of the year and was firmly destined for promotion to the Kenyan Premier League. But with a match to go and Zoo leading in the promotion chase, Zoo was controversially docked three points for allegedly fielding a suspended player, Michael Otieno in an earlier match against Agro Chemicals. Records however showed that Otieno was not suspended for the game. Despite uproar from the football community, FKF held their ground and Zoo was denied promotion finishing third behind Kakamega Homeboyz and Shabana.

A tussle between Football Kenya Federation and Kenyan Premier League Limited ensued and as a result no team was promoted to the Kenyan Premier League for 2015 season. Nairobi City Stars and Nakuru All-Stars who had been relegated from KPL at the end of 2014 season were recalled to Kenyan Premier League.

The tussle between FKF and KPL saw formation of two parallel leagues: Kenyan Premier League run by KPL and FKF-Premier League run by the federation. Zoo participated in the FKF run league.

Once again boardroom decisions ensued towards the end of 2015 season after Shabana and Kakamega Homeboyz were controversially awarded three points. 15 teams agreed to boycott the league until the decision to award Shabana and Homeboyz points is reversed and also tje criteria for promotion was disclosed. Zoo topped the league with 66 points at the time it was suspended. A few teams opted to honor the league and at the end of the year, Posta Rangers and Kakamega Homeboyz were controversially promoted to the Kenyan Premier League. Once again Zoo was unfairly denied promotion.

In 2016, Zoo was third time lucky. The team earned promotion to the National Super League. Four teams were promoted to KPL. Despite objection from KPL secretariat Zoo and Nakumatt joined the big boys in the Kenyan Premier League.

Start to life in the Kenyan Premier League was tough for Zoo as the team lost its first fove league matches. At the end of the year, Zoo finished 12th in the Kenyan Premier League with 40 points. At the end of the year, Zoo midfielder Mike Madoya was named Kenyan Premier League player of the year while striker Nicholas Kipkirui was named Sports Journalists Association of Kenya Young player of the year.

The 2018 season season has been a roller-coaster one for the team. It currently occupies 13th position in the table with 32 points. Kipkirui and Madoya are among the top scorers in the league.

Players

The match day squad for a league game played on the 21st March 2016 consisted of the following players.[3]

  • Vincent Misikhu
  • Dominic Okoth
  • Isaac Kipyegon
  • Johnstone Ligare
  • William Obayi
  • Nixon Amalundu
  • Geodrey Gichana
  • Mike Madoya
  • Benard Odhiambo
  • Billy Luvai
  • Dominic Kiprono
  • Stanlaus Akiya
  • Kevin Omondi
  • Samwel Koko
  • Leornard Mwita
  • Collings Adage
  • Dennis Kananga
  • Julius Mwangi
  • Jevin Omondi

References

  1. ↑ Wandera, Gilbert. "Zoo Kericho set to exorcise KPL promotion ghosts". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  2. ↑ "Embattled Zoo Kericho handed stadium ban". Futaa.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  3. ↑ "Zoo FC cage Modern Coast in Super League — Goal.com". Goal.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.


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