FKF, KPL at loggerheads over Mashemeji derby
What you need to know:
- However, KPL CEO Jack Oguda maintains that the derby is still on asking the federation to use the players that will be available.
- "They (FKF) have not consulted us but their plans and as it stands the derby as well as other league matches are on this weekend. The matches do not fall in the Fifa sanctioned international dates," Oguda responded.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Kenya Premier League (KPL) are at cross paths over Saturday's Mashemeji Derby.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa on Monday confirmed that the match pitting rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega has been postponed.
Mwendwa says this has been done to allow the national team Harambee stars play the two friendly matches against Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea on Friday and Monday.
"There will be no derby on Saturday. We have five matches for Harambee Stars in the next 15 days and for us to allow the new coach gauge players. We have to offer him support because we've 5 players from AFC and seven from Gor," he said
He added: “The derby should be played at a secure place and Kasarani is the most convenient for such a high octane match. There’s no need to risk such a match elsewhere therefore we’ve asked KPL to reschedule it to a later date when Kasarani will be available and we can arrange everything for it to be played safely.”
Mwendwa further said that they have a directive from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to switch the calendar and plans are underway to change the current one year-long season to one spreading over two years as is the case in South Africa and other leagues.
“This season has to end in October and a new one to begin in December and elapse in June 2019 so that by then, we shall start the new season in July and end May 2020. This is because the club championship calendar as well as that of national team tournaments has changed.”
However, KPL CEO Jack Oguda maintains that the derby is still on asking the federation to use the players that will be available.
"They (FKF) have not consulted us about their plans and as it stands the derby as well as other league matches will go on as planned this weekend. The matches do not fall in the Fifa sanctioned international dates," Oguda responded.
Ingwe, who are the hosts, confirmed Monday that VIP tickets will be retailing at Sh500 and Sh200 for terraces, with Botswana ticketing agency Big Brother Events and Ticketing Company tasked with handling the sale.
Gor Mahia custodian Boniface Oluoch and Leopards midfielder Duncan Otieno are among the 10 players called up from the two clubs by new coach Sebastien Migne as he begins preparations in earnest for the 2019 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers against Ghana.
