Kenyan players endorse league boycott in final push for FIFA ban lift

Kenyan elite league players have endorsed the decision to boycott fixtures scheduled by the transitional committee in a final push to force the government to comply with the FIFA directive of reinstating the Kenya Football Federation [KFK] president Nick Mwendwa.

Gor Mahia captain Philemon Otieno became the latest to speak out in concurrence with delaying the league’s resumption until order is restored.

FIFA suspended Kenya along with Zimbabwe last year owing to government interference in football matters.

WHAT OTIENO SAID

“As of now, we are still not sure when exactly we will go back to the pitch for the new season,” he said.

“The dragging by stakeholders is quite unfair to us. I urge them to play their role and ensure we are back in a competitive league.

“Every serious player would wish to play in a league that can take them places. Playing in leagues that are only recognized locally is like playing to futility,” added Otieno.

The government-appointed transitional committee pencilled the 2022/23 season to kick off on October 1.

However, all their plans appear to have hit a brick wall after over half of the top-flight league clubs resolved to boycott until Mwendwa.

And his executive are reinstated as directed by the world football governing body, FIFA.

The clubs released a statement that was read out by Gor Mahia Chief Executive Officer Raymond Oruo confirming their decision not to participate.

ORUO’s WORDS

“We will not take part in any competition that is not recognised or sanctioned by world governing body [FIFA] because it is really a waste of investment and time and very little return coming through,” he said.

Oruo revealed that clubs are sinking in debt and financial turmoil as they lost sponsors owing to the suspension by FIFA hence the need to end the incessant feuding between the government and the federation.

“Several teams have lost sponsors because the league we were playing in was not recognised by Fifa. 

“We have unanimously agreed that we will not take part in a league which is not Fifa sanctioned.

“It became even tough to transfer players.

“And for the sake of our game nationally, only a sanctioned league will take us forward.”

Sadly, the hiatus seems to be far from ending after it emerged that Mwendwa is due to appear in court facing fresh charges of criminal abuse of office.