KPL’s NEW RULES ON PLAYERS: Body gives policies to govern release of players to national team Harambee Stars

Harambee stars under 23 - training session.
Haramebee Stars under 23 defender Collins Shivachi during the team's training session as Charles Odette looks at Kasarani on April 21, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO
 

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has laid out tough new policies regarding release of players to national team, Harambee Stars. The same will also apply to other age-group teams.

The policies aim to ensure professionalism on how the national teams are managed, but the move has been dismissed by Football Kenya Federation (FKF), as unrealistic.

The league body, through a statement posted on their website, said from now on, their clubs will need to be given adequate notice before the release of players for national duty.

“After written notice from the federation to the club and players, KPL sides will release players 48 hours before a friendly, four days before a qualifier inside Africa and a day more for games outside the continent under the Fifa calendar,” said a KPL statement.

The statement was released just a day after the league company’s governing council meeting. The company clarified that the above shall only apply when clubs receive confirmation 10 days before a match that players will return to their clubs no less than 24 hours after matches in Africa and no later than 48 hours after matches outside the continent.

The KPL further added that their clubs will only agree to release players for matches outside the FIFA coordinated International Match Calendar on several conditions, one being that the national association agrees to share accrued revenues from respective international matches.

“The federation will also be required to provide unrestricted access by a certified Public auditor appointed by KPL to oversee income, expenditure statements and related accounting records for all national teams that engage players from the league,” stated the league company.

Other demands by KPL is that FKF confirms in writing on the qualification and experience of the team doctor certified by the Kenya Medical Association, who will be on the technical bench at all international matches.

The company also wants its representative be appointed to the committees responsible for the management of national teams.

Further, the federation will be required to confirm in writing that all players involved in their respective international duties have been fully paid their allowances and expenses.

In reaction, FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya dismissed the policies as unworkable.

“KPL have no right to give us any conditions because we do not recognise them. Secondly, running of the national team is the preserve of the Federation,” he said.