Long wait for women league return stretches on due to financial crunch

Lovers of the Kenyan Women Premier League (WPL) will have to wait a little longer for its return after Football Kenya Federation said it’s not ready to recall the competition due to lack of funds.

The federation said it is yet to receive money from world football governing body FIFA with first leg matches having played last on June 20-24.

Second leg fixtures were released on July 9 but no team has honoured any of the ties with WPL fixtures secretary Doreen Nabwire revealing that teams have refused to play without the funds they expected from FKF for the second leg.

Speaking to Citizen Digital Doreen Nabwire said the funds pledged by FIFA in the FIFA Forward program are yet to be released.

”At the moment, the league is stuck due to lack of funds. Earlier this year FKF pledged to give the top clubs Ksh 750,000 while in division two clubs Ksh 400,000 each but they haven’t fulfilled the promise,”Nabwire said.

According to Nabwire, FKF had earmarked the money for development as a way of strengthening the competitiveness of the league in order to build a product that will attract sponsors.

“We are hoping Fifa will send that money as soon as possible so that we can resume the league.FKF has been doing its level best;  Paying for referees, ambulances and match  security but if we continue like this, we will not move,” she reckoned.

In March, FKF president Nick Mwendwa announced a Sh750, 000 grants per season for all 16 teams, the money coming off the FIFA funds for women’s football development.

As of now the global body had released half the amount to the federation with the remaining set to be released in due course.