Caf licensing: 7 KPL clubs risk relegation as Oserian axed

National Super League (NSL) side Oserian FC have become the first club to learn the true fury of the Confederation of African Football club licensing requirements after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved to chop them off the second-tier league for making ‘no efforts’ to comply.

FKF President Nick Mwendwa on Thursday stuck to his pledge to relegate non-compliant clubs to the lower leagues with seven Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs now staring at the same fate should they fail to beat Friday’s extended deadline.

The seven – Posta Rangers, Western Stima, Mathare United, Muhoroni Youth, Sony Sugar, Sofapaka FC and Thika United – failed to beat the Monday deadline but were handed a lifeline four days’ extension which lapses noon on Friday to resubmit their documents for scrutiny to the Club Licensing Committee chaired by Prof Edwin Wamukoya.

Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday at the FKF offices at Kasarani, a stern Mwendwa maintained that there will be no clemency should the affected clubs fail to comply with the CAF club licensing requirements. The seven clubs will know their fate onJanuary 3, next year after an assessment by the Local Licensing Committee.

Also in limbo are the NSL champions Nzoia United who equally failed to meet the minimum threshold that threatens to lock them out of top-flight football after they gallantly marched into the KPL following a resounding campaign in the second tier league losing only once.

“The committee met and (the) ongoing scoring was done. The seven clubs failed the criteria. There are three categories, A is mandatory and covers financial and legal issues. If it is not fulfilled then next categories won’t be looked at. In the spirit of fairness after finding that seven clubs had not made it, the emergency committee gave an extension to Friday, 23rd December noon,” Mwendwa charged.

According to Mwendwa, two among the seven clubs had resubmitted their papers at the time of the presser, but were still required to adhere to Friday’s deadline.

“They were well informed on the consequence and two have submitted we are waiting for the five. The committee will meet on January 3 to look at the papers, before the National Executive Council (NEC) passing resolutions regarding the number of the teams that will be in the league, and hand it to KPL.

“We might have less than 18 teams if they don’t meet the requirements. But we hope they will meet the requirements and stay,” Mwendwa stated.

The FKF boss is adamant there is no reprieve for clubs that fail to meet the requirements since the federation has been in constant communication with the clubs on the importance of adhering to Caf’s mandatory requirements.

“It applies to KPL and NSL clubs. It started in April and we had series of events briefing the clubs. These are not our rules but they are being implemented at FIFA, Caf and FKF so they mandatory and not optional.

“December 16 was final date of submission. All KPL and NSL clubs submitted except Oserian,” he underscored.

The National Super League clubs have until January 31, 2017 to submit their papers but Naivasha based Oserian FC will not play in the National Super League next season after failing to submit the requisite documents.