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FKF proposes moving 2015 season kick off to August


The 2015 Kenyan Premier League season kick off dates could be rescheduled to August, Nairobi News has learnt.

This is part of the key proposals put forward by Football Kenya Federation to KPL’s governing body, ahead of a series of round table “restructuring” talks that are set to commence this week.

The two bodies will also discuss the much talked about possibility of expanding the 16-team competition to 18 clubs.

BROADCAST DEAL

The national football governing body is also pushing to have at least two of its representatives included in the group that is negotiating for a new broadcast rights deal with Pay TV channel, SuperSport.

At the moment, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) calendar commences in February through to November, in contrast to a majority of established competitions in the world, that begin in August and end in May of the following year.

“We want to align our competitions with those of our affiliates in the world. The Federation doesn’t want to remain behind. I am told our current calender of competition even hampers our performances by clubs and national teams in the region and on the continent.” FKF Vice President Robert Asembo told Nairobi News.

LEAGUE EXPANSION

A majority of stakeholders including Gor Mahia’s CEO Lordvick Aduda, and AFC Leopards Organizing Secretary Timothy Lilumbi are in support of both the league expansion and change of calender proposals.

The meetings between the two bodies could be held amidst growing tension as has been witnessed during an exchange of words by the parties through the media, in a move analysts say is fight for control of the more than Sh250 million annual KPL’s budget.