Suspension of league is out of question, let broke clubs give walkovers- Kalekwa

The president of Kenya Premier League side Sofapaka Elly Kalekwa has trashed a suggestion by some clubs in the top tier wanting the league to be stopped for sometime because of luck of sponsorship even though walkovers have started to be witnessed.

Kisumu All-Stars, Mathare United, Chemelil Sugar, Sony Sugar and Kakamega Homeboyz have lodged requests with the league body wanting the competition to be halted until a tangible solution is found.

Elly Kalekwa, who is among the KPL committee members however says it’s against the club licensing rules to stop the league just because a club lacks sponsors.

“We were victims of the club licensing rules back in 2016, so it can’t be that every time a club lacks funds we stop the league, that not acceptable and it’s against the rules of competition in the Kenya Premier League. How did these clubs join KPL if they don’t have money?”Posed Kalekwa.

“It’s a nonsense call to stop the league. So in short any club that will give out three walkovers should be kicked out in respect to KPL rules,”he added.

Kalekwa wants the league to continue because even the money they get from KPL is not enough to run a club.

“How did they get licenses to run their clubs if they can’t have cash to attend all the games in a season ? Which sponsor will ever come on board if we stop the league whenever certain clubs have no money. And if the league is stopped it means the players contracts end immediately, which is impossible.” continued Kalekwa.

“The solution on all this is for the clubs to come together and help KPL to get new sponsors because we cannot even get government support if we stop the league, the league must go on and we will not bend the rules because a few clubs feel they don’t have money. All clubs in the top flight must be self-sustainable, period.”

The league witnessed the first walkover of the season when Sony Sugar failed to honour their home match against AFC Leopards.