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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

FKF-KPL TALKS RESUME:As both sides look for the best option to settle the storm

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | Nov 17, 2016

**Gor Mahia Chairman Ambrose Rachier, second left, and other branch Chairmen consult during FKF-KPL Meeting at Southern Sun Hotel on Wednesday, February 18th, 2015. PHOTO/JONAH ONYANGO.**

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Kenyan Premier League (KPL) have resumed talks in a bid to resolve the conflict regarding the size of the top tier league next season.

This is despite Saturday’s meeting ending in a stalemate after the KPL stood firm in opposing an increase in the number of teams to 18 next year.

Feverpitch has established that the top leadership of both organisations met on Monday to try and resolve the matter.

During the meeting, KPL asked FKF to send them a proposal on how they want the issue be resolved something the federation has already done. FKF chairman Nick Mwendwa said the ball is now in KPL’s court as they are willing to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

“We have sent them the proposal as they requested for it. I also visited the office of the registrar of companies and confirmed that KPL is not properly constituted as they claim and we have written to them to normalize their operations with the registrar.

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“We hope to have a way forward by early next week,” said Mwendwa.

KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier confirmed they are looking into the proposal that FKF has given them before coming up with a position on the matter. “I met with FKF chairman Nick Mwendwa and just as we did last year when Sam Nyamweya was at the helm asked them to find the extra money for the two extra teams if we have to increase the number of teams to 18,” said Rachier.

On Saturday, a meeting between the two bodies and sponsors ended in a stale-mate after KPL refused to cede ground on the increase of the number of teams.

Rachier said after the meeting that FKF had 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 also reduce money that goes to clubs.

KPL title sponsors Sportpesa also weighed into the matter and called for a quick resolution to it even as they insisted they have no issues with an expanded league.

This is the third time in a row a dispute has broken out between FKF and KPL in regard to the number of teams to take part in the top tier competition.