Why Kenya might not have ‘Confed’ Cup representative
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) might forfeit the Kenyan slot to the CAF Confederation Cup if they do not find a solution to the fate of the FKF Betway Cup.
Like all other competitions, the Cup was also affected when the government suspended all sporting activities in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Given there is no definite date when action will resume, FKF finds itself in a dilemma as winners of the competition are the ones who represent Kenya in the Confederation Cup.
“We are not sure what will happen to the Cup. We have no provision in the rules on the Cup games and at the same time, we cannot engage the teams on this. This has put us in a difficult position.
If the current situation persists, we might be forced to forfeit the slot,” FKF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno told People Sport yesterday of the competition that had reached the round of 16 before its suspension.
Otieno revealed this while also confirming that the federation had submitted Gor Mahia’s name as Kenya’s representatives to the CAF Champions League next season after declaring them champions at the halfway mark of the season last week.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa, on Thursday, declared Gor the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions via twitter and at the same time handed City Stars and Bidco United promotion to the top tier league while relegating Chemilil Sugar to join Sony Sugar in the National Super League (NSL) next season, citing a provision in the federation’s constitution that allows them to do so.
The ‘boardroom’ decision has left a bitter taste in the mouths of some, notably league organisers KPL, Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz—who were fighting for the league title with Gor— and Chemelil, who have expressed a desire to seek legal redress.
“You cannot put your interest ahead of the players’. It is an extra-ordinary time and we made a decision in the best interest of players and clubs.
If there is anyone who wants to go to court, they are free to do so,” added Otieno while saying that CAF had given FKF until yesterday (May 4) to give a way forward on the status of leagues.
