By Mark Baber
November 18 – The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) is considering increasing the number of clubs in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) from 16 to 18 and whether or not to move from the current February to November format to an August to May season.
The two committees will be reporting on their deliberations within a month. Recently the league has brought SuperSport on-board as its broadcaster and official league partner as well as finding success in lining up shirt sponsors.
The committees include “principal stakeholders,” including FKF, KPL and SuperSport.
The committee looking at the calendar includes the CEOs of FKF and KPL (Michael Esakwa and Jack Oguda), advisors Arnold Kanyang’onda (KPL) and Andrea da Silva (FKF), FKF transfer management system boss Nick Mwendwa and KPL board member George Odhiambo.
Meanwhile the committee looking at expansion includes Robert Asembo, FKF vice president, Esakwa, Oguda and Odhiambo.
The proposal to increase the number of clubs which should give a lifeline to Nairobi City Stars, who finished in 15th place in the recent season. and will provide more opportunities for promotion for clubs in the second tier.
The news of the possible changes comes as Kenya’s bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations was rejected by CAF at the initial stage, with only Algeria, Egypt, Gabon and Ghana still in the running. The Kneyan bid failed in part due to lack of sufficient infrastructure.
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