FKF-KPL IN STALEMATE:League expansion talks break down, again

Posta Rangers players celebrates their first goal which was scored by Joseph Nyagah (front left) as they played against Bandari FC in a Sportpesa Premier League match at the Mbaraki club, April 16, 2016. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The country’s top tier league is headed for troubled times following failure by Kenyan Premier League and the local federation to agree on its composition next year.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced that it will announce the way forward on the matter. The KPL also defended its ownership by producing a registration certificate showing that all the 16 clubs own the company.

The 2014 document from the Registrar of Companies is different from the one issued by the same office on November 4 2016 which showed that KPL is owned by only four clubs raising questions about which document is authentic.

A visibly disappointed FKF chairman Nick Mwendwa said KPL rejected all their demands including withdrawing a case they have filed at the Sports Tribunal.

“We have not had an agreement today because KPL stood their ground on all the matters we had on the table. They even questioned Fifa’s instructions.

“As a result, we will reconvene later today and in the coming days to agree on the way forward. We will continue to consult on this matter and resolve it as required,” he said.

“The KPL has come with a document showing that the company is owned by 16 clubs and we have a different one. We will take both to the registrar to find out the truth because it looks like we have a problem.”

On his part, KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier defended the company’s position insisting that FKF has not given them a credible reason to increase the number of teams to 18 next year.

“Our position is that the memorandum of understanding we signed last September to have 16 teams is still binding.

“Furthermore, the letter from Fifa was responding to one written by FKF whose contents we are not aware of. We therefore stand our ground on wanting the tribunal to resolve the matter.

“Our reasons for rejecting an 18-team league still stand. It will increase the number of matches by 66 and reduce money that goes to clubs,” Rachier said. “We do not see any good reason to increase the participating teams.”

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