CRACKING THE WHIP: FKF to curb illegal influx of foreign players, Alila wants Moi Stadium completed

Apart from handing long bans to its officials, Friday’s Annual General Meeting of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF ) moved to stem the illegal influx of foreign players in the country.

The meeting attended by all FKF delegates endorsed a proposal requiring the Director of Immigration to deport all footballers playing in the country without a work permit.

Delegates also warned that clubs that field such players will face severe consequences including losing points.
The matter was brought up by FKF President Sam Nyamweya who asked the delegates to allow him liaise with the Immigration Department to take stern action against players who lack the vital documents.

“It is illegal to have foreigners working in the country as footballers without work permits and the federation has an obligation to ask the government to take action,” Nyamweya told the delegates.

The matter has become a major concern of late and the federation has been forced to resolve a number of cases involving players who turn out for some clubs without a work permit, especially in the lower league.

Currently, a number of national super-league clubs have filed cases against each other over fielding of foreign players without foreign documentation. One of the clubs that have bitterly complained against the habit is Kisii-based Shabana.

“We fully support the decision and hope that the cases we have presented before the federation will be heard and expeditiously determined so that we earn our points,” Shabana Organising Secretary Stephen Kiama said.

FKF Manager in charge of the Fifa Transfer Matching System Nick Mwendwa backed the decisio,n saying it will help stem the influx of footballers coming into the country without due respect to law.

Meanwhile, Nyanza National Executive Committee Member Tom Alila has castigated the Kisumu County Government for taking too long to complete the Moi Stadium.

Alila, who was speaking at the Moi Stadium yesterday, said: “We lobbied for the Kisumu stadium to be considered for the Goal Project by Fifa who installed a Sh50 million Astro-Turf at the facility, the Ministry of Sports and the Kisumu County Government were to erect terraces, public toilets and strengthen the inner perimeter fence. Fifa completed installing the Turf in January yet the Kisumu County government has not completed its works.”

The official said the Kenya Premier League Security team will be visiting the Moi Stadium on Friday to assess the facility and see whether it is fit to host the Kenyan Premier League match between Gor Mahia and Western Stima on July 12.

Kisumu County Director of Sports Zachary Okora said: “We owe the contractor about Sh3.5 million. His budget has been approved and what he needs to do is complete the work so that he claim his money.”