FKF condole with bereaved families of Angolan fans

Football Kenya Federation have paid tribute to the fallen families of fans who perished during a league match in Angola on Friday.

A stampede at Estádio Municipal 4 de Janeiro caused the death of 17 fans during a Girabola match where Santa Rita de Cássia FC were hosting Clube Recreativo Desportivo do Libolo and FKF vice president Doris Petra has registered the federation’s heartfelt sympathy terming the incidence unfortunate.

Stampede at Angolan stadium leaves 17 dead

She says that such sorrowful occurrences can happen anywhere in the world if proper arrangements are not made prior to matches.

“We wish to register our sincere condolence to the families, friends and affected football fraternity of fans who perished on Friday in Angola as a result of stadium stampede.  

Indeed it is very sad and unfortunate but it simply calls for better pre-match preparations in order to prevent such instances. People in charge of any matches should always plan on timelines of ticket sales and when match-day gates swing open so as to avoid  last-hour rush into the matches, she told Goal.

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Angola President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has since ordered for investigation into the ‘real’ cause of the tragedy.

Sadly, stadium crushes are an all too familiar tragedy in African football; in 2001, 127 were killed during a stampede at the Accra Sport Stadium during a match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, while 19 were killed at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan ahead of the Cote d’Ivoire’s 2010 World Cup qualifier against Malawi.