The pace might be slow, but normalcy is returning in Kenyan football. There is a new government and a new Cabinet Secretary for Youth and Sports has been named, receiving massive support from all across the sports spheres. There’s a lot to look forward to after the bona fide Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa signaled having reached out to FIFA over ending the impasse in Kenyan football.
Mwendwa went on to organize a preseason tournament comprising teams in the top league, the FKF Kenyan Premier League as well as a number of lower tier teams. The prize money for this competition was set at Kshs 1 million, and it was Kenya Police FC, a KPL team that walked away with the cash, having trounced Nairobi City Stars 2-0 in the final.
Will Kenyan football get a shot in the arm now?
It is not yet clear when the new season starts after the upheavals caused by the disbandment of the FKF last year in November, the formation of a transitional committee by the then government and the subsequent refusal by clubs to take part in the league this season unless the management demonstrates that the same is sanctioned by FIFA.
There seems to be a tug of war from three different directions. On one hand, Mwendwa, in September, assured clubs that the new season will kick off this October while on the other, the transitional committee has twice been forced to postpone matches after clubs declined to participate. All these happen as the deposed KPL Limited is also making overtures at returning into managing the league.
From the look of things, Mwendwa, who is said to have a cordial relationship with, and enjoys support from, the new government, seems to have the upper hand, with clubs aligning with his management. The investment in the game has also come in the form of betting companies signing up sponsorship deals with clubs.
This also heralds a new venture for fans, who can take advantage of the return of football to bet on KPL games and more, on top sites like Bet365 which has a variety of markets and competitive odds on Kenyan football. A Bet365 bonus, as profiled on SportyTrader is also an incentive for fans to take advantage of the return of the game, giving up to £50 as bonus on the first deposit after registration.
Another top preseason competition is set for Muhoroni in Kisumu County where once again teams drawn from the top and lower tiers of Kenyan football will be facing off as part of their preseason preparations.
The downside of the push and pull that Kenyan football has witnessed in the last one year or so is that the league champions, Tusker, were not accorded the chance to participate in the CAF Champions League. Kenya also lacked a representative in the CAF Confederations Cup. This comes after the men’s national team, Harambee Stars, was also locked out of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers as well as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
