By ERICK OCHIENG’

Kenya Football Federation (KFF) Nationwide Clubs have supported the cooperation between KFF Chairman Sam Nyamweya and his Football Kenya Limited (FKL) counterpart Mohammed Hatimy.

KFF Nationwide clubs chairman Moses Adagala said KFF Nationwide clubs have suffered a lot and the new cooperation will raise standards in the management of the second-tier leagues.

"Many clubs, especially in the KFF second-tier leagues, have suffered in the past, with none being promoted to top-flight football," Adagala said.

"Teams like Muhoroni Youth Club topped the KFF Nationwide league in 2008 but was not promoted to the Kenyan Premier League as only FKL had the mandate to run local football," he added.

According to Adagala, the KFF second-tier league clubs now will have a chance to be promoted as there will be a unified Nationwide league as opposed to the past, when the two federations have been running parallel second-tier leagues.

Adagala criticised those against the merger and termed them "enemies of local football development."

"Those opposing the new cooperation have nothing go-od to offer in local football management. All we need is a unified federation free of wrangles that have dogged the sport for more than a decade. If sound football management can be achieved through this union, then all KFF Nationwide clubs have a good reason to support the co-operation," said Adagala, who is also the director of Western Region Football Academies.

On his part, the KFF Nationwide Clubs Secretary General Kepha Onditi said all their 32 clubs in the second-tier league welcomed the development and would continue supporting the merger for the good of the sport.

"This is the kind of unity we have been yearning for over the years. We warn those against it to think twice, lest they face the wrath of KFF Nationwide clubs," said Onditi during the KFF Executive Nationwide meeting in Kisumu on Monday.

Meanwhile, Muhoroni Youth are leading the KFF Nationwide Zone B with nine points from three matches as Ligi Ndogo lead Zone A with 13 points after playing five matches.