WHY FKF REJECTED REPORT: Federation accuses Fifa official of overstepping his mandate and distorting facts

Erick Ochieng (left) of Gor Mahia FC battles for the ball with Shaban Kenga (right) of Bandari FC during a friendly soccer match played at the Mombasa City Stadium on January 24, 2015.[PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The federation's top organ, in a meeting on Monday, voted to throw out all the recommendations by Fifa consultant Robert Nieman.

In rejecting Nieman's report, FKF accused the Fifa official of going beyond his mandate which was pegged on assessing the commercial, contractual and technical implications on KPL premier clubs, should the league be increased from 16 to 18 clubs in 2015."

"He (Nieman) deviated from the two points and in doing so, overstepped his mandate blatantly distorting facts and wrongly diagnosed the problem in his mission," said FKF Secretary General Michael Esakwa in a letter to Fifa.

POLITICAL REASONS

The Federation took issue with Nieman's assertion in the report that they increased the number of teams this season for political reasons.

"The distortion that FKF unilaterally increased the teams from 16 to 18 and that the increase is motivated by political fights between FKF and KPL is blatant distortion of material facts and shallow.

"The current position is that the increase from 16 to 18 teams is based on a strategic plan of June 2013 brought before Annual General Meeting on June 28, 2013 and was adopted," adds Esakwa.

Nieman also appears to have taken issue with how Shabana were promoted to the top league and brings this out in his report where he claims that FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya may have influenced the promotion.

"The insinuation that the President of FKF influenced promotion of Shabana is an affront to the president's character and integrity on his standing in society. The FKF NEC reaffirms that the president was not and has never been part of the bodies that run the league. Therefore, the allegations are misplaced and in bad faith," points out Esakwa.

The federation also takes issue with Nieman's assertion that KPL were not represented in the AGM of 2013 which agreed to increase the number of teams to 18.

PRESCRIBED DATES

Nieman further prescribed dates for the FKF elections, something else that appears to have rubbed the Federation officials the wrong way.

In rejecting the recommendations, FKF says it will go ahead with the dialogue process in a bid to increase the number of teams to 18.

"Furthermore, any contract entered into by KPL purporting to sell media and sponsorship rights is null and void and is is tantamount to obtaining money by false pretence."

Contacted, KPL official George Odhiambo said they are shocked by the stand taken by FKF and express fears that it could jeopardise their on-going negotiations.

"We had an agreement to adhere by the consultant's recommendations and if one party backs out then we are concerned that anything we agree on with them in future may not be binding on them," he said.

The two parties are expected to meet again today in a final session to determine the composition of the KPL this season.


 

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