Footballers threaten to strike over FKF- KPL stand-off

Some of the Kenyan Premier League players who addressed the media at the City Stadium, yesterday. [PHOTO:COURTESY]

Senior footballers have for the first time voiced their concern over the feud between Football Kenya Federation (FKK) and Kenyan Premier League Limited (KPL) that could cost them their jobs.

Yesterday, during a Press conference at the City Stadium yesterday, the players, under the social media group, Kenya Footballers, said they cannot not rule out a strike or demonstration to force FKF and KPL reach a deal and forestall two parallel leagues.

“The threat to our jobs is ever so high with this stand-off. In the coming week, we may consider calling out on all footballers to go out on the streets to voice our concerns,” Harambee Stars and Bandari goalkeeper Wilson Oburu, speaking on behalf of the players said.

Oburu was accompanied players from all the 14 clubs in the KPL league set up such as  Gor Mahia goalkeeper and captain Jerim Onyango, Anthony Kimani (Bandari), Mungai Kiongera (KCB), Francis Ochola, Jerry Santo (Gor Mahia), Innocent Mutiso (Gor Mahia). Also present were James Situma (Tusker), Wycliffe Kasaya and Joseph Shikokoti (AFC Leopards) and Joshua Oyoo (KCB) among others.

“The tragedy,” the players said is that “once the sponsors pull out, as they are likely to, we as footballers will suffer consequences of a problem we did not start.”

While pleading with individual club sponsors, clubs, their families and friends to stand by them in the wake of this muddle, the footballers eschewed from taking sides saying that both FKF and KPL play complementary roles.

FKF have since cut ties with KPL whose broadcast rights contract with Supersport International upon whom most club sponsors depend for publicity in return for the millions of shillings they invest in these clubs.

By FKF cutting links with KPL and recognizing FKF PL and promoting a whole new set of clubs from their second tier league, the National Super League, it means sponsors of clubs under KPL will see their millions of investments go down the drain.

“As players we understand the importance of the federation so do we the company running the league. The fact even FKF have register a similar company (FKF PL) to KPL, it tells you how important it is to have a professionally managed body to run the league,” the players said.

Last week, Harambee Stars players led by captain Victor “Mugabe” Wanyama (Southampton, England) striker Dennis Oliech (Ajjacio, France), Arnold Origi (Lillestrøm, Norway) all took to the social media to express their frustration over confusion in the local top tier league.