NEW BATTLE FRONT: Football Kenya Federation orders all clubs to register afresh by December 15

Sofapaka's Fiston Abdul (right) battles for the ball with of Posta Rangers Hashim Mukmana (left) during the finals of Gotv Shield cup at Afraha stadium Nakuru on November 15,2014.Sofapaka won 2-1.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

A new battlefront between football chiefs is in the offing following Tuesday’s Football Kenya Federation (FKF) three-week ultimatum to all clubs to register as its members. The move by FKF is clearly geared towards taking control of all aspects of the sport.

Coming in the middle of debate as to whether to have 16 or 18 teams in next year’s Kenyan Premier League, it will widen the chasm already existing between FKF, on one hand, who have disowned KPL and the latter, a private company mandated to run the top-tier league.

In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday evening, FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya said clubs that fail to register by December 15 will cease to be members of the federation and will be replaced.

“All KPL, National Super League and Division One clubs have to register with FKF by December 15 as per the provisions of the constitution Article 10, failure to which they will cease to be members and will immediately be replaced.

“We will not relent in our efforts of developing and promoting the game of football since that is our core mandate,” he said.

KPL has stood its ground, saying they won’t allow FKF to bulldoze them into having 18 teams in the Premier League.

Reacting to the directive (to register), Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa said they will not register as members of FKF since there is no reason to do that now as his club registers every year.

“This is a diversionary tactic. We are already members of FKF and pay an annual fee every year. There is no way we can take part in the KPL without being members of the federation,” he said.

Kalekwa, who is part of the KPL delegation to South Africa negotiating a new television contract with SuperSport, further said they would not relent in their bid to maintain a 16-team league next season.

Gor Mahia Deputy Secretary General, Ronald Ngala, said the club will have no option but to register as FKF retains the sole mandate of running football in the country.

“It is a tricky matter but the bottomline is that it is FKF who are recognised by Fifa and CAF and if they have said we register, then we will do it. My request is that FKF and KPL sit down and resolve this issue amicably,” he said.

Tusker Director, Charles Obiny, said they would adhere to any new registration requirements although he insisted they are already members through KPL.

“We pay an annual fee to FKF through KPL and this makes us members, but if they want us to register afresh we will do it,” said Obiny.

KCB vice-chairman Ali Agil said they have no issues to register afresh, but want to be notified officially.

“The issue has never been whether we are members of FKF or not, because we have always been. However, if another registration is needed we will adhere to it but we must be informed about it in an official manner. So far, this has not happened,” said Agil.