Footballers In Kenyan Topflight League Clubs Refuse To Play Over FIFA Ban
Football players in the Kenyan topflight league clubs have refused to play football until the deadlock between the country’s government and FIFA has been resolved.
Like Zimbabwe, Kenya was banned by FIFA over government interference in the administration of the game.
The two nations are banned from taking part in any FIFA-sanctioned event and were booted out of continental competitions for both the national teams and the clubs.
Kenyan football teams have taken a stand to stop playing in the topflight league, hoping to force their government to mend its relations with FIFA.
According to the Nation, Gor Mahia chief executive Raymond Oruo read a joint statement from the 18 topflight clubs, saying the teams would only honour fixtures when the current standoff between FIFA and the Kenyan government is resolved.
The clubs on Wednesday said they would not take part in the 2022/23 season. Oruo said:
We will not take part in any competition that is not recognised or sanctioned by world governing body because it is really a waste of investment and time and very little return coming through.
He said the failure of Kenyan club Tusker to participate in the Caf Champions League was one of the issues which informed their decision.
In Zimbabwe, football players have been taking to social media to express their frustrations at the ban on Zimbabwe by FIFA, also hoping to influence the local authorities to act to get the ban lifted.
Recently, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) said getting the ban lifted was not one of its priorities, but would rather press on with its ZIFA restructuring exercise which could culminate in elections next year.
FIFA previously indicated that it will endorse the outcome of the ZIFA elections stressing that the ban can only be lifted if ZIFA board members Felton Kamambo, Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule are reinstated.
They were fired last year when SRC dissolved the board last year over alleged maladministration.
