Kenya suspension: Kimanzi accuses Fifa of double standards

Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi during a past training session. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The decision by world football governing body, Fifa, to ratify Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) suspension indefinitely from all international football activities continues to generate different reactions across the country.

From former players to coaches, officials, referees, club owners and fans, the decision will affect the growth of the game in the country.

Kenya had initially been suspended on February 24, 2022 after Fifa termed the Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed’s act to disband FKF as government interference.

The Sports CS disbanded FKF on November 11, 2021 over allegations of misappropriation of funds and installed a Caretaker Committee to manage football affairs for a period of six months.

And with the government having failed to meet the set conditions by Fifa which included the revocation of the appointment of the Caretaker Committee and reopening the doors for the federation’s secretariat at Goal Project, Kasarani, the Zurich-based body had no option but to confirm the suspension during their 72nd Fifa Congress in Doha, Qatar on Thursday.

Former Hambee Stars striker Boniface Ambani. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Following the ratification, Kenya’s case has now been referred back to the Bureau Council who will only lift the suspension if the initially set conditions are implemented.

But it’s the implications of the suspension that the players, coaches, referees, instructors and club officials who are the biggest casualties are worried about.

With the decision, the national teams —Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets — will remain in the cold, while the FKF members/officials will not benefitting from any development programmes, courses or training from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fifa.

Apart from Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets being locked out of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)/Fifa competitions, Kenyan teams have also been barred from competing in age-restricted and international club tournaments.

Former  FKF President Sam Nyamweya and vice chairman Twaha Mbarak in a past event. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Harambee Stars will not feature in the upcoming 2023 AFCON qualifiers set to kick off on June 23,2022, while the winners of this season’s FKF Premier League will not participate in the Champions League.

Harambee Starlets and Kenya U17 women’s team were recently omitted from the fixtures of the 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers and 2022 African U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament respectively.

During the period of suspension, the relegation and promotion in the FKF Premier League will not be recognised by CAF/Fifa.

In addition, Fifa-accredited referees like Peter Waweru, Mary Njoroge and Gilbert Cheruiyot are likely to miss out on appointments for big tournaments this year including the World Cup in Qatar.

While acting FKF president Doris Petra, who attended the Fifa Congress virtually alongside her embattled Secretary General Barry Otieno, says the only way for the impasse to be resolved is through talks between the government and Fifa, FKF Nairobi East chairman Amos Otieno has urged the government to reopen the doors for the federation’s secretariat.

“The ratification of the suspension was expected, it’s procedural. The fact that they have confirmed the suspension means that they have given the government more time to meet the set conditions. Fifa have not blocked the negotiations, they are more than willing to sit down with the government and resolve the impasse. If it means going back for elections with valid reasons, so be it,” Petra told Standard Sports.

Otieno said: “The Congress has ratified it, but that means even tomorrow the ban can be lifted. We urge the government to reopen the secretariat, then allow the Secretary General to follow the SGM directives and resolutions. To avoid a vacuum after the CC’s term expires on May 11, he should call for an election (presidency and NEC) that is verifiable, ratifiable and acceptable by Fifa.”

But for former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi, Fifa should walk the talk and treat each country equally.

Acting FKF President Doris Petra. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

“It’s unfortunate we are back into the same boring situation and there is nothing we can do. But I feel administrative issues shouldn’t keep us out that long because it’s not the players and coaches managing the game. We all know where it all started from; the beginning of this mess wasn’t the government or Caretaker Committee but the management,” said Kimanzi.

“Fifa are always talking about transparency, dialogue and respect for the game, but don’t practice that in real situations. If their (Fifa) principles are genuine, they should treat Kenya, Zimbabwe and Pakistan the same way they handled the Egypt and Ghana cases. The government is only playing its watchdog role, but it seems Fifa have already taken sides and that’s not good for the game.”

Though the ratification presents a chance to clean the mess in the game, former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya feels the Caretaker Committee has let Kenyans down. He says there is totally nothing to write about the Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera-led Committee since its installation last year.

“I am sure I am not the only one who holds the position that the Caretaker Committee has become radarless and failed in its mandate and totally failed the CS and government,” said Nyamweya.

“Some members of the Committee are not committed to bringing sanity to the game and in my view I think the whole Committee should be disbanded. My view is that clubs should be allowed to run the leagues until normalcy is restored.”

But former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani quickly leapt to the Caretaker Committee’s defence insisting that they are doing their best to streamline the game.

“At each and every situation there must be casualties, I just tell players, referees and other stakeholders to persevere because what the CC is doing is for their own betterment. They have to take a bullet for themselves and the next generation. I feel the CC is streamlining the game. We had made football for a few individuals to benefit from, while players and officials struggle but after the dust settles I believe everybody will celebrate,” said Ambani.

Just like Doris Petra, former Harambee Stars coach Mohammed Kheri, goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas and defender Ricky Solomon called on the government to resolve the standoff through dialogue.

“Kenya has not been banned but suspended and there is likelihood to be readmitted by Fifa should we comply with the requirements,” said Kheri.

“Let us use the suspension period to bring together all football stakeholders to discuss, agree and come up with proper structures on the way forward to Kenyan football.”