KPL, FKF league tussle now at CAF

Kenyan Premier League Limited (KPL) has written to Confederation of African Football (CAF) in protest against cancellation of the 2019/20 season, by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

In a letter dated April 26, 2020, CAF wrote to all member federations through Acting General Secretary Abdelmounaim Bah, seeking to be notified on strategies the respective associations were intending to employ in concluding their national leagues amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Consequently, FKF president Nick Mwendwa took to social media confirming the league will not resume and announced Gor Mahia champions on April 30.

In a separate post on his official Twitter handle, he also announced the promotion of National Super League (NSL) leaders Nairobi City Stars to the top tier, KPL.

But KPL Limited did not take the announcement kindly, and immediately contested the directive through CEO Jack Oguda wondering why FKF was “rushing to end the league yet there was still time to monitor the situation.”

The KPL Limited who have since asked clubs to wait for their directive on the way forward, on Thursday took the matter to CAF questioning FKF’s decision.

“We find FKF’s purported decision to cancel the season to be out of step with your circular dated April 26, 2020 addressed to your Member Association General Secretaries,” read the letter in part, signed by Oguda.

KPL Limited further indicated to CAF that it was their mandate to run the league and not the federation, seeking guidance over the standoff that has put clubs in confusion.

Already, some of the clubs have embraced FKF’s pronouncement while others have dismissed it.

“As the body mandated to run the league on behalf of FKF, we expected them to bring to our attention your (CAF) circular so that we could submit a detailed report to them for onward transmission as per your request. We expected FKF to furnish the KPL with clear directives that would guide the deliberations of the KPL’s Governing Council in arriving at decisions commendable to your circular,” further read the letter.

The tussle comes only four months to the end of KPL’s contract to run the league on behalf of FKF, with Mwendwa on record saying the contract may not be renewed.