War of words between Oguda and Mwendwa gets louder
Kenyan Premier League CEO Jack Oguda has warned Football Kenya Federation (FKF) that league matches won’t be rescheduled to accommodate Harambee Stars’ tour of India next week.
Stars coach Sebastien Migne is set to lead his charges against India, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei in Mumbai between June 1-9.
These matches fall outside Fifa’s window of international friendly matches and will clash with a number of league matches involving Zoo Kericho, AFC Leopards, Tusker, Ulinzi Stars, Gor Mahia and Sony Sugar.
Speaking to Nairobi News, after winning a crucial court case against FKF President Nick Mwendwa at the Sports Disputes Tribunal, Oguda accused Mwendwa of failing to follow the rule of law.
This after Mwendwa ordered the rescheduling of the Mashemeji derby pitting AFC Leopards against Gor Mahia so as to accommodate this weekend’s international friendlies involving Kenya against Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea.
“All I’m saying is that we have to respect the rule of law. All the league matches will go on next week and the week after as planned. Clubs that release players should not expect any sympathy,” said Oguda.
HIJACKING THE GAME
Mwendwa has however hit back, accusing Oguda and KPL’s Chief Operations Officer Frank Okoth of ‘hijacking the game’. Mwendwa has also vowed to sack them when their mandate to manage the top flight football league lapses in 2020.
“Two KPL officers in the name of Jack (Oguda) and Frank (Okoth) have hijacked the game. If you keep quarreling with your wife, at some point the only option is separation or divorce,” he said.
Nairobi News understands Mwendwa is reportedly facing pressure from the new Harambee Stars technical bench led by coach Migne to avail all the best available players in these fixtures.
Mwendwa’s predecessor Sam Nyamweya has meanwhile said consistent wrangles in the game will drive away sponsors and partners in the same way it happened with Pay-TV channel SuperSport.
“He (Mwendwa) should leave KPL alone and concentrate on developing the game,” added Martin Kiarie, formerly FKF’s Mount Kenya branch chairman.
Nairobi News also understands the recent squabbles could be politically motivated, with alignments already taking shape ahead of the FKF polls in 2020.