Football Kenya Federation, Kenyan Premier League talks hit dead end

The country was all ears hoping Football Kenya Federation and the Kenyan Premier League Ltd would hammer a deal to settle dispute over whether the top-tier football league would have 16 or 18 teams.

In fact, after Sports Cabinet Hassan Wario had ordered for fresh talks between the two at the Southern Sun Hotel, Westlands, all eyes were trained on the chimney of the five-star hotel. In the end, however, there was no white smoke billowing out of the venue.

After the meeting that was at times characterised by shouting by two sets of officials from either side, it became apparent there was not going to be an agreement.

Not even a six-team caucus could deliver a deal, as FKF President Sam Nyamweya claimed KPL had told them they were under instruction from SuperSport and Tusker not to assent to FKF’s demands.

SuperSport, however, denied this when FeverPitch sought their clarification.

“KPL is using our name in vain, without a doubt,” SuperSport Head of Africa, Andre Venter, told FeverPitch when asked if the league body had used their name to buttress their position.

“Our position has been and is still that we are not against an 18-team league. However, we have often said if we have to go to 18 teams then it must be done properly. And when we say properly, it must be done by the book, mentioned to the clubs, the fans must know. The sponsors must also know before the first ball is kicked so that everyone knows this is what will happen at the end of the season,” said SuperSport.

“We have made it clear that we are not here to manage football. Our job is to broadcast football. To make sure the product is a good product.”

KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier led the clubs allied to the company out of the meeting room, accusing the federation of subjecting the decision to a vote and not convincing them.

“We came here willing to listen to why FKF wants the league expanded to 18 teams. Instead, FKF decided that we should put it to a vote,” Rachier said. “In short, we have not reached an agreement. We had a stalemate. Any voting they talked about is their own vote.

“We are going to continue with our league on Saturday. We don’t know where the elephant of 18 teams came from. There are contractual obligations which, if we expanded the league, would amount to breaking them,” Rachier said.

But in a rejoinder from FKF, the association said KPL was solely responsible for the talks collapsing even after they had made huge concessions.

“They categorically told us SuperSport and Tusker have said ‘no.’ That if they agree to 18 teams, the two would pull out,” Nyamweya told a battery of journalists.

“But we do not trust KPL. We will reach out to SuperSport and Tusker for an official answer,” he said.

“We ceded a lot of ground, including topping up the Sh7 million due from SuperSport and Tusker with Sh9 million from the federation, which would see all clubs get Sh16 million,” Nyamweya said. “We even undertook to deposit Sh1 million in club accounts from tomorrow (today). We agreed to let them run the league but under the constitutionally recognised name FKF Premier League, but they wouldn’t agree,” said Nyamweya, flanked by chairmen of all the 18 branches and National Executive Committee members.

Nyamweya said clubs have until 10am today to commit to playing in the FKF Premier League.

What FKF WANTED:
• League to be called FKF Premier League
• KPL secretariat to run league
• To top up the Sh33 million shortfall occasioned by the addition of two teams, and clubs to receive Sh1 million per month

What KPL WANTED:
• Saw no reason to expand league to 18 teams
• FKF to produce contract with MP & Silva
• Rejected submitting decision to a vote