AfricaPress-Kenya: Mwendwa tweets Gor to KPL ‘glory’, triggers new chaos
The former FKF boss on the rampage, declares K’Ogalo ‘champions’ citing COVID-19 and a Caf letter Kenyan Premier League says was completely misunderstood.
A showdown is looming between Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) after the FA cancelled the league and declared Gor Mahia the ‘champions’ without the former’s consent.
KPL, FKF Betway Cup and National Super League’s conclusion has all been thrown into doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world.
While FKF president Nick Mwendwa yesterday declared Gor Mahia the ‘champions’ and announced Nairobi City Stars ‘promotion back’ to topflight football basing on the league standings as per FKF’s rule book, the league organisers (KPL) have stressed that they will not rush a decision over how this season will finish.
KPL, which was supposed to end on May 23 was suspended in March with less than ten rounds of matches to go as a precautionary measure against the spread of the deadly virus. NSL also still ten matches.
Mwendwa’s announcement came barely a few days after the federation received a letter from Confederation of African Football (Caf) asking the federation to inform them on the fate of the league and the Cup by May 5.
But it is not clear whether K’Ogalo will be handed a trophy and the prize money because by the time of its suspension, the league which has been grappling with a financial crisis had not yet procured this season’s trophy as well as paid Gor their Sh4 million title-winning prize money for last season.
“Ooh and Congratulations Gor Mahia! You are champions once again and you will represent Kenya on the champions league next season,” read a post on Mwendwa’s twitter account.
“Nairobi City Stars !! Welcome to the Premier league.”
Caf’s letter dated April 26 to its member federations signed by acting General Secretary Abdelmounaim stated: “We would like to enquire about the current situation of your national league/National Cup (ranking, number of pending matches, etc.) as well as the strategies you intend to apply to finalise those competitions be it through completion or annulment.”
But FKF’s decision has been met with a lot of resistance from other clubs led by AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz and Tusker.
Disappointed by FKF’s move, KPL CEO Jack Oguda has told off the federation insisting that they cannot impose a decision regarding the league on them. KPL’s term to run the league ends on September 24 2020.
Oguda said it will be absurd for FKF to cancel the league yet Caf itself has not yet completed its own continental competitions (Champions League and Confederation Cup).
“Unless FKF doesn’t want to consult us, our report on the situation of the league still remains the same. KPL is the one running the league and not FKF. Remember, KPL and the clubs are all members of FKF, but we were given the mandate to run the league. By the way, we’ve not received any communication from FKF regarding this issue,” Oguda told Standard Sports.
“But what Caf wants is a report on the league. Our report is very clear and we think we can conclude the league depending on the government’s directive. Even Caf themselves have not cancelled their competitions.
And with the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) having ruled last month that the term of the FKF’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had ended, Oguda says it is only the Governing Council that can decide on the fate of the league.
“As for now, FKF cannot declare Gor Mahia the champions or decide teams to be relegated. That decision can only be done by the Governing Council itself because we still have a mandate to run the league. The Council will then inform the FKF Secretariat of its decision. FKF cannot impose a decision on us because we’ve a decision making process in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KPL and FKF,” said Oguda.
“When you look at that MOU, there is Joint Executive Committee (JEC) comprising of FKF president, two NEC members, KPL chairman and two KPL members supposed to address issues like this,” Oguda said.
“But since the SDT declared NEC’s term is over the FKF Secretariat should wait for the KPL’s decision on the league’s status.”
But KPL are yet to give a specific date for a restart of the league which was initially slated to resume on April 4 after the government recently extended the curfew by three weeks. Ten of the 17 KPL teams have nine games to play, with seven having ten left.
FKF-KPL Joint Executive Committee members
FKF President
KPL Chairman
Two FKF NEC members
Two KPL EC members
FKF CEO and KPL CEO (Ex-official members)
FKF’s Decision means
Gor Mahia-KPL champions
Sony Sugar and Chemelil Sugar-Both relegated from KPL
Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United-Both promoted to KPL
