FKF President Hussein Mohammed meets FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Marrakech, Morocco. [Gianni Infantino, Instagram]

Newly-elected Football Kenya Federation President (FKF) Hussein Mohammed yesterday met FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Infantino was in attendance at the CAF Awards gala in Marrakech, Morocco, where he also met other football federation representatives.

He expressed elation at meeting the new FKF boss and pledged full support, including in developing women’s football in the country.

“What a pleasure to meet the newly elected, Hussein Mohammed, in ?? Marrakech. FIFA President Gianni Infantino meets newly elected FKF President Hussein Mohammed in Marrakech, Morocco. I congratulated FKF President Hussein Mohammed on his recent election and assured him of my and FIFA’s support as he takes on his new challenge of building Kenyan football," he said. 

Mohammed, an experienced football administrator, was second time lucky after he was finally elected the new FKF president hence ushering in a new dawn in the country’s most followed game.

He garnered 67 votes in the second round as delegates entrusted him with the mandate to restore Kenya’s lost glory.

A total number of 90 delegates drawn from 46 branches, 43 clubs and Kenya Footballers’ Association (KEFWA) representatives converged at the historic venue to decide the future of the Kenyan game which has been bedevilled by wrangles, mismanagement, embezzlement of funds and lack of standardised stadiums for a while.

His love of the game and experience in football administration will enable him and his team to bring the sport forward. With plans for a new technical centre in Machakos and strong FKF participation in FIFA programmes, notably in women’s football, the desire and determination to progress on and off the pitch are clear in this football-loving country,” said Infantino on his Instagram.

Having seen his presidential ambitions dealt a blow in 2011, the Extreme Sports CEO has brilliantly made a comeback with his camp garnering seven National Executive Committee members seats as he aims to restore the federation’s reputational damage.

Charles Njoka (Eastern), Caleb Amwayi (Western), Mohamed Dabar (North Eastern), Robert Macharia (Central), Collins Opiyo (Nyanza), Peter Kamau (Lower Rift) and Dan Shikanda (Nairobi) newly elected NEC members were all allied to Team Fresh Start. Gabriel Mghendi retained his Coast NEC member seat, Bernard Lagat clinched the Upper Rift Valley post, while Violet Kerubo Momanyi won the Women's Representative NEC member seat.

"His love of the game and experience in football administration will enable him and his team to bring the sport forward. With plans for a new technical centre in Machakos and strong FKF participation in FIFA programmes, notably in women’s football, the desire and determination to progress on and off the pitch are clear in this football-loving country,” Infantino posted on his Instagram.