KPL waiting on Govt as it mulls possible restart

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) is gearing up for a possible return to action and its Governing Council will convene next week to sketch out a way to resume and complete the current season.

That decision will be dependent on new measures that the Government is expected to announce over the weekend in reviewing coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The lapse of the 21-day nationwide curfew and cessation of movements in certain counties will lapse on June 6 and there speculations suggest the Government could opt to ease those restrictions to tackle the financial damage on the economy.

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Amb. Amina Mohamed, recently confirmed that the Government has set up a team to prepare for the resumption of sporting activities in the country once the Covid-19 situation has been managed.

The KPL has said it views that as a ‘sign that football in general is set to resume to normalcy in the near future’ and will deliberate on the Government’s blueprint to reopening the economy and its effect on football activities.

“For avoidance of doubt, no decision has been made regarding the fate of the KPL 2019/20 season. It should be emphasized that it is only the KPL Governing Council that has the power to make such a decision.

“In that meeting, the KPL Governing Council will discuss and decide on the fate of the KPL 2019/20 season. The provisional agenda for the meeting will be circulated when convening the meeting after consultation with the KPL chairman,” the KPL said in a statement.

All sport in Kenya was halted in mid-March when the country announced its first COVID-19 case with no KPL matches being played since March 8.