Uncertainty as an expanded KPL begins

The 2017 SportPesa Premier League season kicks off Saturday afternoon amid several uncertainties.

First, Football Kenya Federation and the Kenyan Premier League limited are yet to decide on who between Muhoroni, Sofapaka, Vihiga United and KCB are eligible to play in the new expanded league.

On one hand, league organisers insist Muhoroni and Sofapaka rightfully deserve to be in the top-flight league for surviving the chop last season, but FKF officials on the other hand insist the two clubs have been relegated for failing to meet the threshold for registration. The case has been with the Sports Disputes Tribunal for the last month, and hearing is set for March 15.

There is also the sticky issue of which stadiums will be used in the 2017 season.

With Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums have both been closed for renovations, posing a great challenge to organisers since none of the remaining stadiums can comfortably host Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards crowds.

This, coupled with the fact that the league is starting a month late, has left organisers with no option but to schedule triple-headers in the remaining pitches.

KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier acknowledges that this will have a bad effect on the pitches, especially with the expanded league format, but that it remains the only viable option.

“I have never seen a league that kicks off in March. We are a full month late and that means that we have to make certain amendments on the initial fixtures if the league is to end in November.

“Also, we have very we stadia that have met the standard requirements to host league matches so far and there is no way we can host games on substandard grounds.

“Remember also that teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards cannot play in any venue. Matches involving those two are classified as high risk and since Gor has already been banned from Machakos, there are even fewer grounds on which they can play. This leaves us with no option but to go the triple header way,” he said.

Despite this, Kenyan football lovers and players are excited about the new season.

Tusker captain James Situma, who is looking to guide his team to a second consecutive title this year, says that the month-long delay in the league kick off and the uncertainties that surrounded this year’s league were distracting players.

He said: “Pre-season training is an important part of any team’s routine but when you are training without knowing when the league will kick off, it makes you lose focus.”

MORE TIME

His coach George Nsimbe feels the delay had actually given his team more time to prepare for season after their commitments in the Caf Champions League.

But as the dispute between the two football governing bodies dragged on, Nsimbe intimated that he was forced to alter his training regimen. “I had prepared a six week pre-season training schedule for the team but when the league was shelved indefinitely.”

As the outcome of the case before the SDT remains unknown, one can only hope that sound decisions will be made and that the 2017 season will begin as scheduled and run smoothly through its course.