Government’s hardline position resonates with football fans, but...

Kenya Pipeline Central region football team player (in green) battles for the ball with his Coast counterparts during The Kenya pipeline games at Nakuru Athletics Club on December 3,2014.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

The hard stance taken by the Government on the wrangles in football management perhaps resonates very well with football lovers aspirations.

But unfortunately there is very little they can do given Fifa’s protection. Fifa’s accountability remains questionable, but there you are — who says life is fair? You can imagine the protection African football federations get from the governing body because they are used as voting machines in Fifa elections.

To expect the federations to feel the sensitivity and anguish from football lovers is being overly optimistic.

It is gratifying to note that Fifa will arbitrate between FKF and KPL in the current standoff.

As to who has the interest of football lovers in the current affair, nobody knows. One would have expected sponsors to ask hard questions as to future of sponsorship/development of football.

A dairy company does very well in sponsoring schools games. What happens after that? A beer/spirits company sponsors the league. What happens after that? Is it not untimely to campaign with the slogan “football needs you”.

If we work on an elaborate youth programmes such that at any given time, there is a reservoir/nucleus of good players, the standard of football will go up and the national team’s performance will also improve.

Fans will just trickle back without prompting/campaigning. Our Fifa ranking is nauseating, but it does not worry the officials one bit. We tend to salivate immensely whenever we hear of sponsorship money for obvious reasons.

I am convinced many private sector players/firms would be willing to support football only if we sold elaborate development plans from the grass root to the national team.

The ball now rests squarely on the Federation’s court.

As for the representation in Africa Club Championships, Bwana Wario should start sourcing for funds for Gor Mahia. This will be a national affair.

I asked Theophile Abega of Younde's Canon Sportiff when they were in Kenya some time back what he attributed the good performance of their team to.

“Support by the government," he said. By then, Ahijo Amadou was the President and it was a government policy to support the national team.

As for Fifa, they should move with speed to pacify the hurting football fans. The wrangles that create unnecessary sparring should be avoided.

— The writer is a former Gor Mahia player and is now a golfer