Be on top by June 30, qualify for CAF Champions League - FKF

Gor Mahia FC's Clifton Miheso and City Stars' Kevin Okumu (left) on FKF Premier League match at Utalii Sports Club on Sunday, May 16, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced the team that will be leading on the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/football/2001412961/afc-leopards-close-gap-on-leaders-tusker-bandari-held-in-mombasa">FKF Premier League< standings by June 30 will represent Kenya in the 2021/22 CAF Champions League.

This is after a statement dated May 17, 2021, signed by FKF CEO, Barry Otieno required a name (representative) be submitted to CAF by Wednesday, June 30, 2021, which is the deadline for member associations to submit teams to its Interclub Competitions.

"The federation is in receipt of communication from CAF directing that FKF submits Kenya's representative for the CAF inter-club competitions, latest June 30, 2021," read part of the statement.

FKF says the decision to award the CAF Champions League spot to the team leading the league at the said date has been occasioned by the fact the league calendar (fixtures) will not have concluded.

"Consequently, and in consideration that the FKF Premier League calendar may not be concluded before the aforementioned date, due to the disruption occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee in a meeting held on May 7 2021, resolved that FKF PL representative shall be the team at the top of the table, as at June 30, 2021," read the rest of the statement.

This means perennial Kenya champions Gor Mahia risk missing out on a place in next season’s CAF Champions League.

Tusker FC lead with 37 points after 17 matches, followed closely by AFC Leopards, with 32 points having played two games less.

Kariobangi Sharks are third tied on points with fourth-placed KCB (31) having both played 16 matches, with Bandari two points behind in fifth.

K'Ogalo, the defending champions are sixth, 12 points off first place, however, having played three games less than Tusker.