By Gilbert Wandera
Bob Munro has quit as chairman of Kenya Premier League (KPL).
Munro stepped down on Friday afternoon during a Board of Directors meeting held in the wake of a spat between his club Mathare United and the national team Harambee Stars management.
Munro watching a KPL match. He has quit as chairman of Kenya Premier League |
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In a letter submitted to Friday’s board meeting, Munro said he has stepped down so as to focus more time on his children, grand children, environment and his club.
Munro pointed out that he has in the past dedicated a lot of voluntary time to helping move toward corruption-free football and building understanding between the top clubs.
"However, after reluctantly accepting that I have now reached an age when the years I have left on our planet are uncertain, I therefore resign as the KPL Chairman effective immediately," he said.
Sony Sugar chairman, Gabriel Otiende, takes over from Munro in accordance with the KPL constitution.
The KPL chairmanship is held by the chairman of the club that finish top of the league in a particular season. His vice-chairmen are from clubs that are ranked highest in the previous season.
Released their players
Munro hinted he would resign on Wednesday when he expressed disappointment that some KPL clubs failed to support an earlier decision not to release players to the national team until certain conditions are met.
The KPL Senior Management Committee (SMC) had insisted on Football Kenya furnishing them with a long-term training programme for the national team among other conditions.
But other clubs went ahead and released their players to the national team without the said conditions being met while it was only United who held onto to their two.
Munro said he felt betrayed by other clubs for failing to adhere to the decision of the SMC.
The former KPL chairman felt he had lost the support of clubs and so need to continue in the position after the snub.
FK officials however saw the decision to withhold players as having been incited by United and urging other clubs to follow suit.
This was the second time since Hey took over as Harambee Stars coach that there has been problems regarding the release of players.
The first time Hey was forced to omit four United players after they pulled out from camp to travel for an up-country league match.
