The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) transition committee and club managers came up with several strategies aimed at solving the challenges ailing the Kenyan Premier League ahead of the new season which kicks off on August 27, 2022.
Some of the issues discussed at the consultative meeting held in Nairobi include scarcity of venues, officiating, security, player transfers and the procurement of ambulatory services.
Speaking during the meeting, FKF transition committee competitions and leagues chairman Ali Amour requested FKFPL clubs to accept results to help tackle hooliganism.
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“KPL is a brand and we need to tame violence and hooliganism to help make our top tier one of the best continentally. It is about sportsmanship therefore we need to embrace all kinds of results even if it's not favoring our aims,” stated Amour.
Amour added that all fixtures will be communicated to the Kenya Police Service headquarters in advance to help beef up security in the stadiums.
“In terms of security,all fixtures to be officially communicated to the police HQs so that they brief their officers of the number of matches in their areas of jurisdiction,marshals will be identified and trained by clubs themselves,” revealed Amour.
Security has been a big challenge in the Kenyan Premier League for decades now. The problem is so dire such that some football fans choose not to attend some matches, particularly the Mashemeji Derby pitting Gor Mahia against AFC Leopards for safety reasons.
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Former Harambee Stars player Joseph Masiga who is part of the 13-member committee confirmed that they are in talks with various ambulance providers to fix the ambulatory services problem.
“Before the season starts, we will have secured the services of ambulance providers notably St John's with whom we've been having engagement and consultative sessions with for a lasting solution on this (ambulance issue),” disclosed Masiga.
AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda on the other hand suggested that home teams should be compelled to provide an ambulance to guarantee the safety of players.
"It must be compulsory that at least an ambulance must be provided by the home team before a match proceeds because failure to which puts players of both teams at risk incase of an incident." recommended Shikanda.
Kenya is currently serving a FIFA ban due to government interference in football matters. FKF President Nick Mwendwa was kicked out of office and charged with corruption.
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