Former stars appeal for talks over structure of domestic league
What you need to know:
- “ I am humbled by this honour. I wish to thank my colleagues for this kind gesture and to urge upcoming footballers to work twice as hard and be ready to die for this country on the football pitch,” Abass said.
- The event was also graced by former players James Ojiambo, Josphat ‘Controller’ Murila, Peter Lichungu, Reginald Asibwa, Micheal Obonyo and US-based Tim Kibuwe won the local league title with the defunct Utalii in 1997.
- Meanwhile the Kenyan Football Hall of Fame’s liaison officer Obonyo has said the initiative will create and maintain a database of all national football teams.
Former Kenyan footballers have urged administrators to resolve the standoff regarding the number of teams in next season’s top flight league in an amicable manner.
The local league body, the Kenyan Premier League Limited, has publicly disagreed with proposal of the local federation to increase the number of teams in the 2015 league from 16 to 18.
KPL has maintained that the competition will only involve 16 clubs.
“It’s a healthy debate. I support an 18-team league,” former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars captain Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor explained.
He added: “But we don’t have to shout all over it. There has to be a way we can deliberate without attracting unnecessary attention of the sponsors and supporters”
Oduor, father of Kenya international custodian Arnold Origi, was speaking at a function where former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards goalkeeper Mahmoud Abass was inducted to the Kenya Football Hall of Fame by former Kenyan internationals. The honour was bestowed on Joe Kadenge last year.
MAHMOUD ABBAS
Abass was handed a token of Sh80,000 and a commemorative plaque in recognition of his contribution to the sport.
“ I am humbled by this honour. I wish to thank my colleagues for this kind gesture and to urge upcoming footballers to work twice as hard and be ready to die for this country on the football pitch,” Abass said.
The event was also graced by former players James Ojiambo, Josphat ‘Controller’ Murila, Peter Lichungu, Reginald Asibwa, Micheal Obonyo and US-based Tim Kibuwe won the local league title with the defunct Utalii in 1997.
Meanwhile the Kenyan Football Hall of Fame’s liaison officer Obonyo has said the initiative will create and maintain a database of all national football teams.
“We in the process of collecting data to createg and maintain a comprehensive database of national football teams at all levels. We will have accurate information about each player, coach and team. Nobody at the moment has this information in one place,” Obonyo, a former AFC Leopards midfielder, said.
Utalii’s former midfielder Timothy Kibuwe (left) and AFC Leopards former player Micheal Obonyo (centre) present a plaque to Kenyan football legend Mahmoud Abbas when the player was inducted to Kenyan Football Hall of Fame on December 17, 2014.
