Crisis looms at KPL as clubs reject fixtures

Kenya Premier League Limited is headed for a serious crisis in the wake of the controversy involving Ulinzi matches against Sofapaka and Chemelil.

Sofapaka and Chemelil, both strong title contenders, on Thursday maintained they would not honour the rescheduled games with Elly Kalekwa, the Sofapaka president, calling the fixtures a ploy to hand the soldiers victory on a silver platter.

The situation is even more complicated, with Football Kenya Limited saying it will not recognise the results of the matches in case they are played.

KPL meanwhile says Sofapaka and Chemelil must play the games or face unspecified action, which the two clubs say they are ready to take.

“If they want to award Ulinzi the points, let them do so. But we are not going to honour a game whose points we had already been awarded,” said Chemelil Sugar chairman Robert Nyakundi.

Respect for rules

Kalekwa said rules must be respected. He said: “The KPL board sat and warned Ulinzi they would lose points if they played in the World Military Games but they decided to go.

“Now they must face the consequences because we went to the stadium and the referees were also there but there was no opponent to play.”

The two clubs are questioning why they were not invited in the Independent Disciplinary Committee meeting that ordered the decision, yet they are also interested parties.

The Ulinzi versus Sofapaka match has been set for October 26, the same day the latter will be involved in the FKL Cup final.

Already, Sofapaka coach Francis Kimanzi has stated they would play in the FKL Cup final and not any other match on that day.

FKL senior vice-chairman Titus Kasuve said Ulinzi will have themselves to blame for playing in a tournament that is not recognised by any football body globally.

“As far as we know, the World Military Games is a private affair – like the inter-bank or inter-hotel tournaments – and a team’s matches cannot be rescheduled when you play in such unrecognised tournaments. We cannot pamper Ulinzi at the expense of other clubs.”