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Mwendwa, Hussein ‘beef’ denies youngster move to Europe


Difference between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) leadership and that of a Nairobi based tournament have denied a budding Kenyan footballer an opportunity to pursue a professional career in Europe.

Youngster, Joe Wanjiku, who plays for amateur outfit Umeme Sports FC, has apparently been offered a contract by Georgian club FC Iberia 2010, but the impending move has been cancelled by world football governing body, Fifa, because he plays “in an unsanctioned league.”

This development follows a prolonged tussle between FKF officials and administrators of Nairobi based Super Eight tournament over the eligibility of the competition.

Early this week, FKF Communications Officer, Barry Otieno, explained circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the player’s potential transfer.

“Joe Wanjiku Kimani’s transfer from Umeme Sports to FC Iberia 2010 (Georgia) was cancelled by Fifa due to the player’s participation in an unsanctioned league,” Mr Otieno said.

UNSANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS

FKF President Nick Mwendwa is also on record for saying that the federation would not recognise unsanctioned football tournaments in the country.

“We won’t stop people from organising football tournaments but if they are not registered, we will not recognize them. That means, they will not enjoy benefits of recognized leagues and that includes securing international transfers,” Mwendwa said in a recent interview.

Recent discussions between officials of the two bodies to have the Super Eight absorbed into the Nairobi FKF league have failed to yield fruits.

As a result, Umeme Sports which features in the SportPesa sponsored Super Eight tournament, is not recognised by FKF and Fifa.

The Super Eight is a decade long on and off football competition organised by the Extreme Sports group under the tutelage of astute businessman Hussein Mohammed.

In 2011, Hussein unsuccessfully vied for the FKF top seat but lost to Sam Nyamweya. Since Mwendwa’s team assumed office in February 2016, there have been indications of a strained relationship between the former and Hussein.