Sambu and clubs consult on way forward

 

February 28 - KFF Chairman Alfred Sambu held a consultation with clubs at the meeting last Saturday of the Kenyan Premier League Ltd (KPL). The KFF Chairman presented his key concerns, challenges, vision and plans for revitalizing and professionalizing the KFF and Kenyan football. Each club and KEFORA then briefly presented their key issues and concerns. The clubs' presentations were followed by an open, frank and constructive discussion with the KFF Chairman on the way forward.

During the discussion the clubs noted enviously that in South Africa in 2004 every Premier League club received a grant from their Premier Soccer League (PSL) of Rand 3.6 million (Ksh 47.5 million) each and in addition that prize money of Rand 23.3 million (Ksh 310 million) was awarded to the winners in the national league and Cup competitions. In cooper-ation with FIFA, top executives from the PSL are expected to visit KFF in the near future. A 1-page summary of the NSL/PSL is attached.

After concluding the consultation with the KFF Chairman, the KPL clubs resumed their meet-ing. Key agreements and decisions by the KPL clubs included:

-      On the Premier League relegation and promotion formula, the clubs confirmed their continued and full support for the pre-season formula unanimously agreed by the sub-committee appointed by clubs on August 14, 2004 which then met on August 26th under the chairmanship of KFF Normalisation Secretary Sylvester Ashioya with AFC Leopards Secretary Michael Esakwa, Gor Mahia Chairman Erastus Okul, Mathare United Chair-man Bob Munro, Re-Union Chairman Mark Ageng and Securicor Vice Chairman Dom-inic Ooko which was then unanimously endorsed without change by 19 Premier League clubs at the KPL meeting on August 28th as follows:

-      "At the end of the 2004-05 season the three lowest clubs in each group will be automatically relegated; the 4th lowest ranked clubs in each group will play a home and away series with the 5th lowest ranked club in the other group with the two winning clubs remaining in the Premier League and the two losing clubs both relegated; and the two top clubs promoted from the Nationwide League to give a total of 18 clubs for the 2005-06 Premier League as the maximum allowed under the evolving new FIFA policy";

-      "At the end of the 2005-06 season the four lowest clubs will be automatically releg-ated and the two top clubs promoted from the Nationwide League to give a maxim-um of 16 clubs for the 2006-07 Premier League".

-      On the Nationwide League, the clubs confirmed that the league winner in Zone A and the league winner in Zone B will be automatically promoted and also agreed that urgent efforts are now needed to reduce the number of clubs and to increase the profile, marketing and funding of the league.

-      On club representation in the KFF National Executive Committee and General Meetings, the clubs agreed to ask the appointed representatives to attend the next KPL meeting and explain how they represented the interests of all Premier League clubs this year.

-      Members agreed to meet again on Saturday, March 12th at 10:30 a.m. at Utalii Hotel.

 

 

Contact

Jack Oguda, Acting Managing Director, Kenyan Premier League Ltd, Mobile 0722-741411

South african national Soccer League (NSL)

 

Affiliation   Affiliated to SAFA as a "Special Member"

                   The NSL Chairman is one of the three SAFA Vice Chairmen

 

Leagues    Premier Soccer League (PSL): 2 clubs relegated and 2 clubs promoted annually
                   First Division in two groups: Inland League with 16 clubs and Coast with 14 clubs

 

Cups          Premier Cup

                   League Cup

                   Top 8 Cup

                   Charity Cup   

 

General Meetings

 

Held every two years and attended by the representatives of the 16 Premier Soccer League clubs (10 votes per club) and the 30 First Division clubs (2 votes per club).

 

Board of Governors

 

Consists of the club Chairmen and meets twice a year.

 

Executive Committee

 

Elected by secret ballot at the biennial General Meetings and consists of the Chairman (an independent person or member of the Board of Governors) plus seven members elected by and from among the Board of Governors with the Chief Executive Officer acting as the Secretary. Five members constitute a quorum.

 

Dispute Resolution Chamber

 

Chaired by an independent expert on dispute resolution with six other members: three League representatives plus three players representatives.

 

Match Commissioners

 

Appointed by the CEO from a list approved by the Executive Committee.

 

Referees

 

Referees are appointed to matches by the CEO from the list approved by the SAFA Referees Appointments Committee.

 

NSL Prize money

 

In 2004 the NSL awarded prize money of Rand 23.3 million (Ksh 310 million) to the winners in the NSL league and Cup competitions.

 

 

South african PREMIER Soccer League (PSL)

 

Founded      1996

 

PSL clubs    16 (from 18 clubs in 2002)

 

Relegation  The last two clubs are relegated annually

 

Promotion   The winner of each First Division group is promoted to the PSL annually

 

PSL grants  In 2004 each PSL club received a grant of Rand 3.6 million (Ksh 47.5 million)