KPL to be renamed next season

By Gilbert Wandera

Kenya Premier League (KPL) is to change its name next season following their support for the new company managing local football.

The company will now be known as Football Kenya Limited (FKL) Premier League according to a statement released on Saturday.

The new name is supposed to reflect KPL’s support for the association whose formation was ratified by delegates last week in Nairobi.

The statement also revealed that club chairmen had agreed during their emergency meeting on Friday night that all constitutional amendments proposed by KPL be discussed during a seminar for teams later this month.

"Once discussed in Mombasa, they will be adopted during an FKL Special General Meeting (SGM) early next year," said KPL chairman Bob Munro.

Munro said the new association had assured them that it would pay all debts owed by clubs including the Sh14million KPL spent to prepare the national team, Harambee Stars, in the second round of the Africa Cup/World Cup qualifiers.

The meeting also resolved that a detailed report of the just concluded Nationwide league be prepared to clearly identify the two promoted teams to next season’s Premier League.

The Friday meeting was called after it became apparent that majority of the KPL clubs did not support the new association.

The move was threatening KPL’s sponsorship deal by SuperSport.

A total of 11 clubs attended the meeting. They included: Bandari, Gor Mahia, Mahakama, Mathare United,Mathare Youth, Sher Karuturi, Sony Sugar, Thika United, Tusker, Ulinzi Stars and World Hope.

The Head of Africa for Supersport International, Gary Rathbone, also attended.