COLLISION COURSE: KPL insists on 16 clubs, but FKF says they are in charge

Ulinzi Stars' Muhammed Hussein and Geoffrey Kokoyo vies for the ball during their KPL against KRA at Nyayo stadium on 13-08-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has said it is opposed to an 18-team league, putting itself on a collision course with the national association who threatened to withdraw its recognition.

In a statement sent to the media yesterday, signed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Oguda, the company maintained the 2015 season will have 16 teams as has been the norm, contradicting an earlier stand by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) supporting an 18-team league.

He said: “Sporting integrity dictates that relegation and promotion is decided at the beginning of the season by all participating clubs and our agreement is that the bottom two clubs are relegated and the top two in the lower division (are) promoted.”

Oguda cited several reasons for opposing a bigger league, one of them being the need to give national team Harambee Stars more time to take part in international competitions as well as friendly matches.

“The health of our players is also put into consideration, whereby if the league is congested there is an increase in injuries and very few clubs have insurance medical cover to take care of the medical, recuperation and rehabilitation of the players,” he said.

He added: “In 2008, when KPL assisted the federation in running the national team, we moved to number 68 in the Fifa rankings. Unfortunately, the team has since moved down to position 116.”

He revealed that the decision to have a 16-team league was agreed upon in 2004 during a meeting between FIFA, CAF and the government.”

“We reduced teams from 24 to 16 so as to have a high quality, competitive, marketable and professional League. The standards have since improved and we still insist on quality as opposed to quantity.”

Citing an example from different African leagues, Oguda argued that majority of them do not have more than 16 teams.

“In an expanded League, the participating clubs will have an increased financial burden and will dilute and/or even kill the league and its integrity as has happened before when some clubs failed to honour matches and decisions were made in the boardroom.

Oguda said they are committed to the rule of law and will adhere to Fifa, CAF, FKF and KPL constitutions.

“The meeting, which decided to increase the number of teams was not properly constituted. We were not invited and they have on many occasions made decisions outside their own constitution.”

But FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya maintained the quest for an 18-team league, insisting this will not change. Nyamweya dismissed the reasons cited by KPL in opposing the expansion of the league.

“The federation remains superior in running football and we will therefore have an 18-team league. Furthermore, KPL are not our members but rather individual clubs.

“KPL governing council is not superior to our executive committee,” he said.