Football Kenya Federation won't relent in quest for 18 team league

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will not relent in its quest to have an expanded top league next season.

FKF executive member for Nairobi Simon Mugo said the decision has the approval of the federation's top organ and they intend to implement it in 2015. Mugo also told off broadcast sponsors SuperSport over their misgivings on the proposal.

"It is our mandate to run football in the country and we have decided to have an 18-team Kenyan Premier League next season," he said.

He added:"Instead of raising misgivings, SuperSport should look at ways of marketing themselves through an expanded league and leave the management of the league to us," he said, adding that it is possible to keep the costs constant even with a big league.

"We propose to maintain the same number of live matches as last season and also look at ways of cutting administrative costs to cover the two extra teams," he said.

The official said in future, they are considering a 20-team league in order to satisfy the many demands from the counties.

"Every day, we receive requests from county governments wanting their teams to feature in the KPL. It is imperative that we keep expanding the top league to give room for promotion of more teams." 

Yesterday, SuperSport East Africa General Manager Auka Gacheo said it may not be practical to increase the number of teams in the KPL from 16 to 18 from next season.

In a related development, FKF has written to Fifa over its decision to have an expanded 18 team league next season. FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya has written to Primo Corvaro the head of member association in justifying such an increase.

"In 2013, we organised a three-day symposium that came up with a five-year strategic plan. One of the key strategic objectives was to increase the number of teams in the KPL to 18 a move that would allocate more promotional slots to the lower league sides," reads the letter.

It adds:"We adopted this strategic plan during our Annual General Meeting held on June 28 attended by all stakeholders including all the 16 KPL clubs where and informed by this decision, we have put forward three solid proposals-which include, increase the number of teams in the top tier league from 16 to 18.