KPL strikes back as Mwendwa talks hit brick wall

The raging debate of whether to expand the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) from 16 to 18 teams will rumble on after talks between the top-flight management company and the federation hit a brick wall.

In following an all too familiar script, Mathare United chairman and one of the KPL founders, Bob Munro, staged an early walkout from round table discussions called for by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa on Saturday.

“We have talked but have not agreed on the all the issues on table. They (KPL) have shown us another certificate of shareholders of the company running the league different from the one we got from the registrar.

“We will get down to knowing which is which between the two. We could not agree on expanding our league to 18 teams, because they raised questions about the letter from FIFA which you are all aware about,” the football boss conceded after the latest stalemate.

The departure of the Canadian-born Munro, a hard nosed negotiator and the brainchild of KPL, set the tone for the closed-door meeting that took almost three hours at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani VIP lounge to fail in reaching a consensus with the lieutenants he left behind refusing to bulge.

The meeting was called three days after world governing body FIFA wrote to FKF where they gave Mwendwa the mandate to impose their will on the league but unlike his predecessor Sam Nyamweya who was never shy to soil his hands and dig for the fight, Mwendwa opted to continue playing the diplomatic card with no end in sight to a two-year dispute.

In following a template from previous meetings to discuss the composition of the KPL, the atmosphere was tense in the lounge with a battery of journalists who were anticipating the earlier promised ‘big announcement’ waited outside.

After Munro left the discussions, it became apparent no solution was in sight when stakeholders came out for a ‘one-hour lunch break’ with sullen faces betraying they were not any closer to an agreement.

With the clock ticking to the start of the Harambee Stars international friendly against Mozambique, Mwendwa reconvened the talks but to no avail.

Flanked by his deputy Doris Petra, the disappointed Mwendwa told journalists talks had hit a brick wall but insisted the matter had only been delayed and will be amicably solved.

Before the meeting, FKF had provided documents from the Registrar of Societies saying only four shareholders own KPL instead of the 16 clubs participating in the league as they questioned its legal legitimacy to run the competition.

However, KPL produced another certificate that backs their claims all participating clubs own a stake in the company.

Mwendwa further revealed KPL bosses had refused to withdraw the case they filed at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) barring the expansion of the competition to 18.

On his part, outgoing KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier of Gor Mahia blamed the federation for forcing matters without consultations and without tangible reasons.

“I have asked for a single reason why we must expand the league. No one has answered me. We have 27 good reasons why there is no need for adding more clubs.

“One is monetary, which is key because the sponsor is non committal on increasing the package and last year’s agreement that was brokered by FIFA and CAF representatives recommending a 16 team league,” charged Rachier.

Rachier argues the expanding the league will cause fixture congestion and will be unhealthy for the players.

“We have struggled to fit in the already congested calendar sometimes teams playing two fixtures in a week. What about when we add sixty more matches?

“Anytime a person proposes a change to an existing system, there must be something being improved or rectified. None of the above has been signaled in their recommendation,” the professional lawyer offered.

He clarified KPL is owned by the 16 participating clubs, with seven shareholders selected every season from the clubs to fit the number provided for by the Registrar.

On the refusal to withdraw the case, Rachier said SDT was the right institution to settle the matter despite FKF’s disregarding the same.

Mwendwa is however optimistic everything will be settled.

“We will sit and consult more to find a solution which should be out by latest December 15.”

This means anxiety in the National Super League (NSL) on promotion will continue as the raging debate rolls on.