FKF crisis: Pay Adel or history will judge you harshly, Mwendwa told

CAF Secretary general Hicham El Amrani (left) and the vice president Almamay Kabele Camara (centre) looks on as FKF president Nick Mwendwa address journalists after inspecting the Mombasa County Stadium which is under construction, April 27, 2017. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Chairman of a KPL clubs warns federation to obey Kenyan law

History will judge Mwendwa harshly over Adel — coaches

Failing to pay Amrouche is disrespectful to not only the coaches, but also the players, Kefoca say.

Pressure is mounting on Nick Mwendwa to ensure former Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche is paid his dues amounting to Sh109 million to save Kenya from being removed from the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

Mwendwa told BBC Sport Thursday that it will not be the end of the world to be out of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers even as Fifa Disciplinary Committee moved the deadline to pay Amrouche to April 30 ahead May 18 when the case will be re-submitted to the chamber.

The comment, however, has elicited sharp reactions from Kenya Football Coaches Association chairman Bob Oyugi, who described the statement as “reckless and insensitive to the dreams and aspirations of a generation of players.”

“Mwendwa simply doesn’t understand the job he was entrusted with. Adel did a fantastic job when he handled Harambee Stars. It is only fair that he gets justice by following established statutes not the jungle law or history will judge Mwendwa harshly,” Oyugi said.

“This is not only disrespectful to the coaches, but also to the players. Who knows, this could be the year for that once-in-a-lifetime fairytale run for Kenya that we end up in Qatar come 2022?” Oyugi posed.

“Mwendwa must be made to pay. He came into office in 2016 and had all the time and opportunity to engage stakeholders constructively, but ended up mishandling the case and now he is telling Kenyans it will not be the end of the world? Come on,” Ouygi said.

Mwendwa, 41, is legally no longer the head of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) his mandate expired on February 10 and affirmed by the Sports Disputes Tribunal’s ruling on March 17.

However, Fifa Chief Member Associations Officer Veron Mosengo-Omba trashed the verdict, insisting he remains at the helm.

Amrouche has surprisingly come under fire on social media for saying he would forgive Kenya should Mwendwa resign.

Pressed by Standard Sports why he was pushing for Mwendwa’s removal, Amrouche said it was FKF that was politicising the issue.

“The Tribunal said his term is over. But because he wants to play politics with what is just for me, I can play politics,” Amrouche said.

“Besides, for six years I used my family resources to fight for my right, then I forgive? Does Mwendwa really believe I can do that? Am I crazy? No, my family will never forgive me.

“The window to forgive was open when we met in Switzerland when Fifa said he pays me Sh65million. He refused and instead hired lawyers from Europe to stop me from getting justice,” Amrouche said.

Mwendwa is fighting to retain control of FKF after two botched election. He was, however retained by Fifa’s Mosengo-Omba, who said his ExCo remains in office.

Yesterday, a chairman of a Kenyan Premier League club, who declined to be named for fear of cyber-bullying, warned FKF must strive to stay on the right side of the Kenya law.

“Does FKF seriously believe the Kenyan Constitution and laws apply to all Kenyan citizens except FKF officials? Yet even Fifa must respect national laws. As Fifa is located and registered in Switzerland, Fifa must respect the Swiss Constitution, laws and courts. Swiss authorities are actually investigating serious corruption cases within Fifa and even raided the Fifa offices. But has Fifa ever threatened to ban Switzerland for “government interference in football”?

“Even the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne can only be appealed to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court,” he said.

He added: “However, Sports CS Amina Mohamed is absolutely right in insisting that FKF officials must respect the rule of law and Kenyan court decisions.”