Tribunal orders 2017 KPL to start without four clubs

The Sports Disputes Tribunal on Friday directed the Kenya Premier League (KPL) Limited to start the 2017 top-flight season within two weeks without four teams engulfed at the centre of the standoff with the Football Kenya Federation.

FKF’s Communications Director Barry Otieno confirmed the Tribunal had ruled to exclude Muhoroni Youth and Sofapaka FC who were relegated by the federation for failing to meet the FIFA/CAF Licensing requirements as well as KCB FC and Vihiga United who were promoted from the National Super League to take their places from the start of the suspended league.

“We were not aware that Sofapaka and Muhoroni had gone to the Tribunal challenging their relegation on the grounds that it was done illegally. We got to know when we were called from the Tribunal, informing us of the development.

“That idea is to start off without teams that are at the middle of controversy and we are happy about it because finally we can have the ball rolling,” Otieno told Citizen Digital.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa took to the twitter expressing his delight over the development, hinting the 18-team league debate was not over.

“League to start without Sofapaka, Muhoroni KCB and Vihiga….Best decision ever! Let’s do this. Once the case is solved at Tribunal, the Tribunal will determine the two teams who will join the rest thereafter,” Mwendwa tweeted.

At the time of going to the press, KPL had not confirmed receiving the order by the Tribunal. A senior KPL official told Citizen Digital they were in a meeting consulting on the simmering disagreement.

Hours before the latest development, FKF had sent a press release to newsrooms saying they have invited all KPL chairmen for an urgent meeting on Saturday to chart a way forward accusing their representatives in the Joint Executive Committee (JEC) of declining to attend talks brokered by the Tribunal.

Members of the joint body from the KPL argued the meetings would not be fruitful without the presence of ailing chairman, James Musyoki.

“The move has been necessitated by the two failed JEC meetings, with KPL stating that they have been unable to attend the same due to one of their members being indisposed, this despite the KPL/FKF MOU clearly stipulating that two members from each side can form a quorum and deliberate on emerging issues.

“In light of the aforementioned, president Mwendwa in consultation with the National Executive members has resolved to meet all 2017 KPL chairmen, in a bid to amicably resolve the top tier league’s composition, brought about by the failure, of both Sofapaka and Muhoroni Youth to meet the 2017 club licensing criteria, which subsequently led to the two being disqualified from the KPL and as a result being relegated to the second tier league,” read part of the release.

Otieno admitted that Muhoroni and Sofapaka had not been invited into the planned Saturday meeting.

On their part, KPL had sent communication announcing the postponement of the JEC meeting to Monday after the first scheduled for Wednesday failed to take off with Musyoki indisposed.

“The Kenyan Premier League has postponed the League kickoff to allow for the JEC meeting scheduled for Monday, February 13. Kindly be advised and inform your technical bench of the new developments,” KPL wrote.

Clubs involved in the top and second tier leagues have expressed dismay at the standoff saying it had scuttled their preparations for the new season.