KPL set to release 2015 season fixtures
The 2015 Kenyan Premier League fixtures are expected to be out on Thursday as the league body races against time to get the competition going.
Last week, KPL said the competition will kick off on February 21, and in an interview with Nairobi News on Wednesday, Chief Executive Jack Oguda reinforced his body’s position explaining that the bulk of the arrangements have been made.
The three-month long break has starved football lovers of action on the pitch and KPL is determined to bring the flavour back.
“We are fine tuning a few things. Once the fixtures are ready, they will be sent. By Thursday they should be ready,” Oguda said.
Talks between KPL and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over the composition of the top flight league collapsed last week after FKF had allegedly refused to share with them the Fifa consultant report filed by German Dr Robert Niemamn.
The federation has however countered this argument insisting that a copy of the report was delivered to KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier.
PROMOTED TEAMS
“The federation confirms that, contrary to claims by the Kenyan Premier League Limited, the Independent expert consultant’s report, was shared with chairman Ambrose Rachier last week, as advised by Fifa and any suggestions to the contrary are only an effort to discredit FKF following the decision by the SGM,” FKF’s statement read.
At the same time, KPL on Wednesday wrote to FKF to establish whether the latter still recognizes them. Oguda explained that should the federation give a negative response, they will go ahead with their plans.
“We are writing to FKF on that issue. The letter will be asking them if they recognize KPL, if not, then we just move ahead,” he said.
Oguda was however non-committal on the teams that will be promoted in place of the relegated Nairobi City Stars and Nakuru All Stars. Posta Rangers and Shabana had been earmarked for promotion but the league body has contested the promotion of the latter.
KPL has stuck to a decision to maintain an 16- team league contrary to FKF’s recommendation for the inclusionI of two more team.
But as the difference between KPL and FKF escalates, the Government has maintained a studious silence as even as the feud threatens to negate the gains made in the recent past.