Rachier to FKF boss Mwendwa: Embrace dialogue, not majesty

Rachier to FKF boss Mwendwa: Embrace dialogue, not majesty

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier has called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa to climb down from his ‘high pedestal’ and seek a negotiated settlement to the 2017 Kenyan Premier League impasse.

Rachier, who is also the Vice-chairman of the KPL, told Citizen Digital on Tuesday they would honour the Joint Executive Committee (JEC) meeting mediated by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) meeting on Wednesday in an effort to end the crippling stand-off.

The Gor boss maintained they were not opposed to the expansion of the league to 18-teams but they need an explanation from the FKF on how they had arrived on the clubs to play in the competition.

Rachier added they were also open to any action the federation decides to take on them after the FKF announced on Tuesday he would face disciplinary proceedings alongside KPL chairman, James Musyoki, founder Bob Munro and CEO, Jack Oguda.

“We are leaders and whatever he chooses to do, we are his servants and we are going to the disciplinary committee since we respect the rule of law. He is the president of football after all.

“We agreed on an 18-team league and we were told by the Tribunal to go and organise it but now we are reading two new names. Promotion and relegation should be done on sporting merit,” Rachier stressed.

Rachier explained they had chosen to stand with Muhoroni Youth FC and Sofapaka FC who are members of the KPL because they are questioning the criteria used to demote them from the top flight by the FKF.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday), he can come and must show the law allows teams to be relegated that way. We are in solidarity with the teams on sporting merit. He should not just bark them out as orders and tell us they are not part of the league.

“There is an agreement brokered by the Tribunal that such decisions should be negotiated but the President has chosen to argue with majesty while we are arguing with facts. We have to agree who comes into the league,” the Gor boss held.

Rachier claimed the KPL published fixtures featuring 16-teams on Monday as an interim measure awaiting agreement on the final composition of the 2017 top flight.

“We came up with the fixtures since we needed to start the league this weekend since we did not want to delay it. We have to agree on who comes in so that the other two teams can be included in due course.

“We need to come together and find the way forward. You cannot sit on a high pedestal and make orders. We had the same with Sam Nyamweya and he got nowhere.

“Let Mwendwa come to the table and we discuss,” Rachier urged.

He however, stressed the final word as far as the KPL was concerned is vested on Musyoki, the incoming chairman and champions Tusker FC boss.

-Oguda unbowed-

Meanwhile, reports Jacob Icia, KPL CEO Oguda is unbowed by the intention of the FKF president to charge them over the league impasse.

According to Oguda, KPL had not received official communication from the federation by the close of business on Tuesday about their decision to suspend the league and would thereby not respond to the reports.

“I have indeed heard about it through the media but I cannot say anything formal because it has not been formally communicated to us. May be they will communicate to us tomorrow (Wednesday),” Oguda told Citizen Digital.

Zoo Kericho, Nakumatt FC, KCB and Vihiga United, had been promoted to the 2017 KPL by FKF on grounds of meeting the FIFA/CAF club licenses requirements that Sofapaka and Muhoroni lacked.

He however, said Kenyans will know whether the league will kick-off on the planned February 11 or not following the JEC meeting.

“We have been invited for the JEC meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) after which we can authoritatively speak about this matter. Remember the release we sent to media  stated the fixtures can be reviewed amended if and when the league expands to 18,” Oguda explained.

 

 

 

Tags:

kenya Nick Mwendwa FKF KPL football Jack Oguda Muhoroni Youth Bob Munro James Musyoki Amrose Rachier

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