PRESS RELEASE
KPL aims at fairplay on and off field
July 4 - The commitment of the KPL to ensure fairplay on and off the field is
reflected in the key decisions made by 18 top clubs at the KPL Management
Committee meeting last Saturday.
For example, the KPL clubs decided:
- that the share capital paid by relegated clubs will be repaid to them;
- that the net gate receipts for the playoffs will first be used to reimburse
the travel and accommodation costs of the two upcountry clubs, Mumias and Ulinzi
Stars, and any remaining funds will then be divided equally among the four
clubs;
- that the playoff Match Commissioners and referees will be appointed by KEFORA
and then assigned by a draw at the joint pre-match meeting for the semifinals on
July 13th;
- that all clubs will collectively pool their match broadcast rights in the KPL
and the revenue will then be redistributed to all KPL clubs on a fair and
equitable basis;
- that a priority in the KPL budget will be to provide an equalization grant to
clubs based outside Nairobi to equalize the costs of their participation with
the lower costs of clubs based in
Nairobi as half of their away matches are still played in Nairobi while
all the away matches of the other clubs are played away from their home
area.
The equalization grant also aims at encouraging a better national distribution
of top clubs in more areas around the country rather than so many clubs staying
in Nairobi as at present.
In the fully democratic KPL, all clubs have equal shares and votes which will
also help ensure that the rules are applied firmly and fairly to all clubs
equally from now on. As an indication of the new solidarity and unity among the
top clubs, no votes were needed during the KPL meeting on Saturday. All
decisions were unanimously adopted by consensus.
Other unanimous decisions at the KPL Management Committee meeting included:
- KFF Constitution: Members adopted five amendments on KPL
representation in the KFF and restoring the KPL text in the constitution based
on the concluding statement by Sports Minister Ochilo Ayacko at the clubs
meeting on June 15th and on the decisions of the clubs meeting and of the KFF
National Executive Committee meeting on June 25th.
- Company limited by guarantee: Members welcomed the FIFA directive to
KFF to de-register that company as a matter of urgency.
- Arbitration panel: Members noted with concern that KFF had still not
acted on the KPL letter on June 27th appointing KEFORA Secretary General Gilbert
Ottieno as the KPL appointed arbitrator and authorized the KPL Chairman to raise
their concerns with the KFF and urge KFF to act as soon as possible this week.
- Start of the new season and transfer period: Members decided that the
2005/06 season would start on the weekend of August 27-28th and continue until
the end of May 2006 and that the first transfer period would start on July 18th
and close on August 19th.
- Premier League format: After discussing the costs and benefits of a
split or unified league, members decided that the goal is to have a maximum of
16 clubs as soon as possible; that 4 clubs will be relegated and 2 promoted each
year until that goal is achieved; that if any club withdraws or is suspended
after today then it will not be replaced or included among the relegated clubs
until that goal is achieved; and that the competition will be played as a single
unified league starting with 2005/06.
- Joint KFF/KPL Coordination Committee: Members strongly supported the
FIFA directive that the joint committee be established and meet as soon as
possible and agreed it would be co-chaired by the KFF and KPL Chairmen and
include the remaining 7 members of the KPL Executive Committee and an equivalent
number of KFF members.
Contact
Jack Oguda
KPL Managing Director
Mobile 254-722-741411