NAIROBI, December 4- President Uhuru Kenyatta has told football managers to put their house in order and stop wrangling as he weighed in the ongoing squabbling between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) on Thursday.
While hosting GOtv Shield champions and KPL runners-up Sofapaka FC at State House Nairobi, the Head of State blamed the country’s football management for mismanaging local talent.
“To those who are charged with management of football in this country we also ask you to get your house in order. You’ve been charged with the management of this sport for the benefit and on behalf of the people of this Republic.
“We ask them also to do what it is they must do to promote the sport. All these wrangles and financial issues that consistently keep cropping up are things they should put in the past,” President Kenyatta told in reference to FKF that is fighting to take control of KPL besides expanding the competition to 18 teams.
“Football managers are responsible for mismanaging our national talent. Football managers stop wasteful squabbling,” the Head of State added.
His Cabinet Secretary in charge of Sports, Culture and Arts, Dr. Hassan Wario was more explicit urging his boss to ensure the suggested disbandment of KPL by FKF does not happen.
“Sponsorship by SuperSport is very important to the visibility of football in Kenya. Forming the KPL is very important in professionalising the league so that it runs on its own around a company.
“We have heard so many voices on the possibility of disbanding KPL, we are saying under your leadership, His Excellency that will not happen. We want football as a key sport to continue developing. SuperSport you’re here to stay with us to develop the sport,” the minister underscored while echoing his boss on the call to FKF to put their house in order.
Influential Nairobi Senator, Mike Sonko who was also in attendance added; “We must stop the politics in football.”
FKF on Monday declared the decision to expand the league was final whilst ordering KPL to change their name to FKF Premier League after the latter’s Governing Council rejected the proposal to add two more teams to the top flight.
Clubs were given a December 15 deadline to register with the federation with FKF going further to state they would audit KPL accounts and top officials for the past five years.
During the State House visit, President Kenyatta gave Sofapaka Sh1m (USD11,068) to aid preparations for next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.