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The Nairobian

KPL SNUB LEAGUE TALKS: Meeting at Sports Tribunal fails to take off as standoff between league body and FKF continues

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | Feb 09, 2017

A Photo Journalist walk past tear gas as AFC Leopards fans engaged police in a scuffle after they were beaten 1-0 by Thika United during their KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 11/05/14.The match was called off.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) representatives failed to turn up for a scheduled meeting at the Sports Tribunal yesterday to resolve a stand-off over the league kick-off.

In the absence of the KPL chairman, James Musyoki, who fell sick, the two other representatives from the league company said they could not appear at the tribunal.

However, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa and his Chief Executive Robert Muthomi turned up for the meeting.

Mwendwa said they would meet again on Friday but insisted that the league would not kick-off, as he had announced on Tuesday.

“We are sending out letters to the clubs informing them not to honour any matches this weekend until this matter is dealt with and resolved. Once this is resolved, we will have 18 teams in the top-tier league,” he said.

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A club chairmen we spoke to did not want to be drawn into the stand-off. He insisted that they were waiting for word from KPL on the fate of the league.

“I am not in a position to talk about the fixtures at this time. Only the KPL can comment,” said Sony Sugar chairman Paul Orato.

Orato said his team has been training since January and would be ready to play once they got the go ahead.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula said: “We are waiting to be told the way forward on the league kick-off. It is not in our hands as clubs.”

Homeboyz were supposed to host Gor Mahia at Mumias Complex in their season opener on Saturday.

John Ohaga, who chairs the Sports Disputes Tribunal also said he was not in a position to comment on the stand-off as he was out of the country.

Ohaga ruled that this season’s league had 18 teams.

“I have no information regarding the stand-off except what I see in the media as I am away at the moment. I want to understand the dynamics that may have arisen after my ruling before we can see the way forward,” he said.

The recent stand-off has been escalated by a decision by the KPL to release fixtures for a 16-team league this season. The league company has even included Sofapaka and Muhoroni Youth, who failed to get a licence to take part in the competition.

The two clubs were relegated by the federation for failing to get the licence but received support from KPL, who insisted failure to be licensed was not grounds for relegation.

However, a day after KPL’s action, FKF announced that it was suspending the league and opened disciplinary proceedings against three club chairmen.

They are Bob Munro, Ambrose Rachier and James Musyoki as well as KPL Chief Executive Jack Oguda.