Nairobi News

A day after a section of football stakeholders dismissed Fifa’s two-day visit to the country as a Public Relation stunt, football administrator Twaha Mbarak and over 22 County Football Associations officials differed with them, saying it is too early to make such a conclusion.

The former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice Chairman said there should be no cause for alarm since Fifa will issue a report as is tradition after every visit, on the issues that were represented to them by Sport Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

Twaha led 22 County Football Associations in exonerating Namwamba from the blame of going to bed with the federation, saying the steps he took in ensuring that the suspension on Kenyan football is lifted is enough indication he means well for football.

On Wednesday, a section of the stakeholders led by former FKF President Sam Nyamweya, former FKF Presidential Aspirant Lordvick Aduda, Trans Nzoia County Association boss Zachary Ndung’u and his Nairobi County counterpart Charles Njorege, said Fifa visit didn’t meet their expectation as they were snubbed and didn’t get a chance to present their views.

The group also took issue with embattled FKF President Nick Mwendwa’s presence at the meeting with Fifa officials insisting he is supposed to be out of football because of a case on economic crime he is battling in court.

“It’s too early to start condemning the CS and making conclusions. Football enthusiasts will tell you the steps of opening negotiations with FIFA is to reinstate the FKF (at least secretariat), do communications and after FIFA findings now they will decide whether normalisation committee will be formed or not, at the same time they will give reasons on the same,” said Twaha.

“We are all eager about the formation of a normalization committee, but we need to be patient for the due processes to be followed,” he added.

Twaha also asserted that he believes that when Gelson Fernandes, Director Member Associations Africa and his entourage met Namwamba, he presented to them resolutions from stakeholders touching on various matters since some of them had met the Cs when he came to office.

Twaha added that Fifa only meets national affiliate members thus they shouldn’t be castigated for following their rules.

“The condemnation of the Cs and Fifa was therefore ill-advised. We are hopeful that Fifa in their findings will propose an amendment of the FKF constitution to align with the Sports Act and electoral code so that we can finally conduct elections in accordance with the law.

Some of the county football associations chairpersons who signed the statement read by Twaha are Goshi Juma Ali (Mombasa), Frankheart Ddaido (Tana River), Edwin Lisamula (Kakamega), Dan Maina (Murang’a) and Ibrahim Njuki (Embu).

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