Mwendwa welcomes FIFA directive on 18-team KPL

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa struck a reconciliatory tone when welcoming the intervention of world body FIFA who ordered the Kenyan Premier League to adopt an 18-team format for next season and beyond on Wednesday.

On the other hand KPL Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda maintained the matter was in the hands of the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) as the federation boss said he would reach out to the league managers over the weekend to seek a solution to the 16 versus 18 team-format impasse.

In a letter addressed to Mwendwa, FIFA supported the expansion of the top flight league to 18 in a bid to end the two-year tussle between FKF and KPL.

“For me it’s an opportunity to correct the situation with KPL that is what our aim is. There is nothing to celebrate about. It’s just to say guys something is not right so let’s fix it. I hope they will accept our recommendations on how we want to fix it.

“There’s nothing new in our position, it’s the same position that has been there, it’s only that this time round FIFA has reinforced it. It was what you and I knew,” Mwendwa told Citizen Digital on phone.

The FKF boss is optimistic their weekend meeting will draw a line on the matter especially now that FIFA have given the federation a go ahead to expand the league as they wish.

“They know our position and we will discuss and share with them what we plan to do. We shall listen and hear what they have to say from their side.

“It’s upon them to decide what they want to do, you see once you have been given a directive it’s upon you to decide what you want to do.  The directive is very clear so we will wait and see,” Mwendwa underscored.

In the letter, FIFA also advised KPL to withdraw the case it had filed against the federation at the SDT that seeks to bar the expansion of the league.

Mwendwa said that should KPL refuse to terminate the suit, they would still respond to the case.

Local media reported FKF’s responding affidavit pointed out their KPL counterparts had not conformed to the Sports Act of 2013, a pre-requisite for bodies operating in the country that govern sport.

Oguda said they had not received communication of the FIFA letter.

“I can’t comment on something have not seen and FIFA respects the judicial process within their member associations. The matter is already following a judicial process,” the KPL boss affirmed.