NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – Kenya Premier League (KPL) clubs will now be releasing their players for international duty after receipt of a letter from the secretary general of Football Kenya Limited (FKL).
FKL director Titus Kasuve said that KPL will continue to support Harambee Stars and expressed optimism that the development will put an end to the wrangling that has bedeviled player availability over the past fortnight.
“The clubs have reiterated their commitment to the national team and have agreed to release players to the Harambee Stars upon receiving the letter of release from the secretary general,” said Kasuve.
“The letter of release will be written today (Monday) by the FKL secretary general and will be sent to the clubs whose players are needed in the camp,” he added
Gor Mahia secretary general Vincent K’Odera who spoke on behalf of the clubs said that they will continue to support Stars’ coach Antoine Hey’s wishes to work with players every week leading up to the Nigerian match from Monday to Thursday.
“We will not be a stumbling block to the training of the national team and in terms of the results we require from the national team and the coach,” said K’Odera.
“From now on we will have a symbiotic relationship with FKL whereby there will be one line of communication between the FKL secretary general and the clubs and the clubs will then respond in whatever circumstances that will have come up whether its in agreement or disagreement,” he added.
As for the controversial commitment letters which the clubs refused to sign, Kasuve said that they are now non existent following the outcome of the meeting.
“All release letters will emanate from the secretary general. Any letter drafted prior to this meeting are null and void,” said Kasuve.
Hey had set off a storm a fortnight ago after he dropped sevens players from the Stars squad after their respective clubs refused to sign the commitment letters.
The clubs argued that they had already agreed to go against the norm by availing their players from Monday to Thursday every week and that signing the letter would not any value.
Meanwhile, foreign based players are expected in the country by this weekend as preparations for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria pick up.
Kasuve said that plane tickets had already been organized for the players who will join the rest of the squad at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Stars captain Musa Otieno has already reported to Kasarani after arriving in the country on Sunday.
