We may have a new FKF Premier League champion after the Football Kenya Federation announced on Monday that they will submit a representative for the CAF Champions League by June 30 as per the CAF rules.
In a letter sent to the clubs by the federation CEO Barry Otieno confirmed the latest development meaning that any matches that take place after the set date will mean nothing to the 17 clubs participating in Kenya’s top tier.
“In a meeting held on May 7, 2021, resolved that the FKF PL representative in CAF Champions League shall be the team at the top of the table, as at June 30th, 2021” read a part of the statement.
“Consequently and in consideration that the Premier League calendar may not be concluded before the aforementioned date, due to the disruption occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee in a meeting held on May 7, 2021 resolved that the FKFPL representative in the CAF Champions League shall be the team at the top of the table as at June 30, 2021,” read the FKF letter.
It is however yet to be known how the federation will pick Kenya’s representatives for the CAF Confederations Cup for the upcoming season. Kenya failed to send a representative to this season’s edition with only Gor Mahia fronted for the CAF Champions league in a season that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The current revised calendar will see FKF Premier League matches end in August meaning that whoever tops the table by the end of June will automatically carry the country’s flag in the 2021/22 season,
Tusker FC lead the charts with 34 points after 16 matches, two ahead of AFC Leopards and 12 ahead of reigning champions Gor Mahia.
Chapter eight of the FKF Handbook allows for the federations to decide the club that will represent the country in club competitions.
“8.3.4. The final table standing of the Top Tier League shall provide the priority order of eligibility to represent Kenya in the CAF Club Champions League and CECAFA Club Championship.
“Rule 8.3.4 and 8.3.5 notwithstanding, the FKF National Executive Committee shall decide the club to represent Kenya in any other International Club Competitions,” reads the FKF handbook.