Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas ‘Toto’ Shimanyula has made an emotional appeal to the government to ensure justice is served following the tragic death of the club’s defender Silas Abungana.
The football fraternity has been thrown into mourning after the former Shabana FC defender succumbed to head injuries sustained after being struck with a blunt object, injuries that reportedly led to blood clots in his brain.
According to reports surrounding the incident, the attack is alleged to have stemmed from a family dispute, with claims that Abungana was hit during an altercation involving a close family member.
While several versions of the story have emerged, the Kakamega Homeboyz chairman has called for thorough investigations to establish the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
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Shimanyula calls for justice following tragic death of defender Abungana
“It is a great loss to us and I urge the government to help us arrest the person who did this,” Shimanyula said.
“The player’s parents also need to be examined because I believe there is something they are hiding from us. So many stories are coming up. Some say it was a land issue, others claim it was about a marriage they did not approve of. These are matters that should never have led to such an unfortunate incident.”
Shimanyula also revealed how the club acted swiftly after learning of the assault, with the team management stepping in to try and save the player’s life.
“When the unfortunate incident happened, we received a call and club’s team manager went all the way to his home and took him to the hospital,” he explained.
The Kakamega Homeboyz chairman believes the club has lost not just a player, but a rare defensive talent who was steadily rising and attracting attention beyond club football.
“It is very sad losing such a dependable defender at Kakamega Homeboyz, a player who was a regular in our starting eleven,” Shimanyula said.
“He featured in our last match against Mara Sugar and played very well. This is a huge loss, not just to the club but to Kakamega County and the entire country. We have lost a player who was already on the radar of the national team Harambee Stars which shows he was destined for something great. Losing such a talent in these circumstances is heartbreaking.”
Beyond his performances on the pitch, Abungana was already growing into a leadership role within the squad despite his young age.
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“He was a leader at the club,” Shimanyula added. “As evident from the socials, he was always encouraging his teammates to work hard. At just 26 or 27 years old there in, he had already become a leader and commanded our defense very well.”
Abungana had joined Kakamega Homeboyz earlier in the season from Gucha Youth and quickly made his mark.
“He had just joined the club, and in less than a month, he had already earned a place in the starting eleven,” Shimanyula stated.
“He spent only about five months with us, but he brought calmness and organization to our backline. With his loss, we are now forced to look for other options because his defensive partner is still not very experienced.”
As investigations continue, Kakamega Homeboyz, fans, and the wider football community continue to mourn the loss of a promising defender whose career and life were cut tragically short.