By James Waindi

Local football chiefs have welcomed the calls of an urgent unified election to end the persistent football wrangles.

The move comes a day after former international players and fans demanded for change in the running of football in the country after Harambee Stars’ campaign for the 2010 World Cup/ Africa Nations Cup ended with a painful 3-2 lose to Nigeria in Nairobi.

Football Kenya Limited (FKL) chairman Mohammed Hatimy said he was ready for elections if that was the solution to the wrangles but noted that it had to be under the limited company’s constitution.

"We are ready for elections and we had said we would hold it before the end of 18 months from November last year so it’s not far away. Everyone is welcome to participate in the election so long as you qualify because would strictly follow the rules.

If you are suspended you are automatically locked out, but if you meet the other requirements you are certainly viable," said Hatimy.

Harambee Stars’ Emmanuel Ake challenges Nigeria’s Yusuf Ayila at Kasarani on Saturday. Photos: Stafford Ondego/Standard

Kenya Football Federation (KFF) secretary general Omondi Aduda said Harambee Stars failing to qualify was always on the cards yet the country’s leadership buried its head in the sand.

"All that has happened is a matter of choice. We can choose to continue this way or roll up our sleeves and put in a place a leadership that is committed to developing the game," Aduda said.

KFF Senior Vice-Chairman Twahir Mbarak and Nairobi Branch Chairman Simon Mugo also noted that there was an urgent need for ‘One body, one nation and one team.

Mugo said unless the football chiefs put their house in order, it would just be a waste of time in trying to develop the most popular sport in the country.

"We are ready for elections even if it was tomorrow. My branch has been very active in grass root football but without unity, the good work at the grass root level may not yield fruit," said Mugo.

Twaha said there was no shortcut in football and noted the need of putting structures in place urgently and start forging ahead.

"The Prime Minister should now work together with the Minister of Sports and find a lasting solution to the football wrangles. In the whole world, Kenya is the only country run by two federations so one would wonder if it is a unifying or dividing factor"

He added: How can we have two leagues, two bodies of referees, two bodies of coaches and soon we could be seeing two national teams. It is crazy and the authorities should now have a legitimate stand and end this chaos once and for all," Twaha declared.