Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa had opened a new battle frontier for the war-weary federation by provisionally suspending the chairmen of Kenyan’s most popular clubs Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards over the fallout on Betking Mashemeji derby snub.
Apart from suspending Ambrose Rachier of Gor and AFC Leopard’s chairman Dan Shikanda, Mwendwa also announced that due to the snub of the Saturday league fixture, the two clubs have both been deducted three points while Gor Mahia have been fined Ksh.4 million and Leopards Ksh.6 million.
The two giant clubs snubbed the fixture demanding grants amounting to Ksh.3 million, with Gor claiming the lion’s share at Ksh.2 million by winning the FKF Cup.
Ingwe were runners up and were to contend with Ksh.1 million, however the push and pull seem to be done.
Gor Mahia Secretary-General Sam Ocholla confirmed that the club received Ksh.2 Million FKF Betway Cup prize money from FKF CEO Barry Otieno.
The Federation is in the process of wiring the winning prize monies to runners-up AFC Leopards, third-placed Bidco United, and fourth-placed Equity.
It is these monies that formed the bone of contention, but there is no love lost between Rachier and FKF president Nick Mwendwa, more so, after the fight over the expansion and composition of the league.
Rachier, then serving as KPL Chairman had opposed the move to expand the league from 16 to 18 teams. He also opposed the League’s Broadcast deal signed between the Federation and Chinese firm StarTimes.
But according to Mwendawa, the Cup monies were only used as an excuse to skip the match, noting he had communicated in advance that there would be a delay in payment of the same.
After unveiling the FKF Premier league and fans reacting to it and later sponsors threatening to terminating the top tier league sponsorship, Kenyan football urgently needs to win back the trust of sponsors or it will suffer irreparable damage.
