*Undated
Dark clouds are still looming over Kenyan football as more details allegedly regarding clubs' financial states have been released.
Mathare United chairman Bob Munro has raised the red flag on the crisis gripping the Kenyan Premier League clubs even as financial constraints continue to bite hard.
On Tuesday January 4th, Munro threw the gauntlet to the newly appointed Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee to swing into prompt action, while pointing out that any further delay could trigger far-reaching implications that may soon be deemed to be irreversible.
“Our local football is experiencing turmoil and the footballers are suffering immensely. As I speak now, nine of my players have been locked out of their homes over non-payment of rent. Our efforts alone cannot sustain the clubs. We need external support,” lamented Munro.
While confirming that the club had, indeed, received Ksh 300,000 disbursed by the Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee last week, Munro described the amount as too little to keep the clubs afloat.
“We appreciate what they've sent but it's a case of too little too late. It won't even be enough to cover our expenses thus far,” said Munro. “One away match costs roughly Ksh 350,000 while hosting a home match requires at least Ksh150,000,” he added. His plea came hot on the heels of a candid letter he wrote earlier to the newly appointed Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee's head of secretariat, Linda Ogutu, expressing trepidations over the future of local clubs.
“In your e-mail on December 23rd, you reassuringly wrote that you are working with the ministry to resolve and ensure that no club collapses over financial instability,” read the letter in part.
“The most vulnerable and likely community-based clubs will collapse in 1-2 weeks. Walkovers will rise as clubs lack funds and/or desperate players boycott matches."
Munro attached a chart and related points attributing the clubs' financial problems to a series of escalating external crises. “Today only, nine of the 18 KPL clubs are presently stable financially. Of the nine stable clubs, five are funded by GOK agencies/parastatals. The 9 unstable clubs now owe 2-3 months in salary arrears to players/coaches,” revealed Munro in an interview.
Munro said that without urgent and major Sports Ministry/FKF CC grants, FKF PL rankings will soon reflect financial power rather than sporting merit. “Moreover, this imminent FKF PL crisis is also a humanitarian crisis. The collapse of only one club also means the financial collapse of at least 40 innocent and already desperate families, especially as school fees are due this week.”
However, the head of the FKF Caretaker Committee secretariat Linda Ogutu confirmed they had already disbursed funds to clubs in a process that began last week.