FKF President Shares Why Kenya Police Haven’t Been Paid After Winning Premier League
- Kenya Police are yet to receive any prize money for winning the Football Kenya Federation Premier League last month
- The federation's president, Hussein Mohammed, has revealed the challenges his office faces as he tries to implement his manifesto
- The president spoke on the eve of the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania
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The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Hussein Mohammed, has lifted the lid on what his office has been up to in the first seven months of his reign.
Source: Twitter
Hussein came into office in December 2024 after he beat Doris Petra, a candidate fronted by his predecessor, Nick Mwendwa.
The widely acclaimed grassroots football organiser promised a fresh start as he sought to provide solutions to what ails Kenyan football.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday evening, the head of the governing body addressed some of the issues and challenges his administration has been confronted with.
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Among the pertinent issues was why league champions don't receive any prize money for winning the FKF Premier League.
Kenya Police ended Gor Mahia's and Tusker's dominance at the top to win their maiden title last month.
In a previous interview with TUKO.co.ke, the club's team manager, George Maelo, revealed that they had not yet received any prize money from the federation.
"The federation is yet to talk to us about any prize money. We hope plans are underway to ensure that we get some amount which would go a long way in helping us prepare for CAF Champions League."
Source: Twitter
Why have Kenya Police not been paid?
Hussein absolved himself from blame, stating that his team had inherited a huge mess. The president, however, promised to tackle the issue head-on to ensure that teams get compensated and incentivised well.
The president cited the huge debts the previous office left that they are still trying to clear.
"I'm not again trying to make excuses, but I found this league halfway through. We are still struggling with our debt portfolio and just keeping our heads above water right now. Please judge me from the next season, this new season that is coming up. Of course, we will do whatever we can to remunerate and compensate and sort of motivate the teams by offering good cash prizes down the road," he explained.
FKF has a tainted history of dealing with aggrieved coaches who did not receive their dues and ended up filing cases with authoritative bodies.
The Kandanda House-based body has in the past been compelled to pay KSh 52 million to former coach Bobby Williamson, KSh 109 million to Adel Amrouche, among others. Immediate former coach Engin Firat also resigned over unpaid dues.
How to make Kenyan football attractive
Hussein explained that for Premier League winners like Kenya Police to get prize money, his administration will work on packaging Kenyan football as a commodity that private entities and corporates will find hard to say no to.
"We must attract that money somehow. That money can only come if the leagues are lucrative in terms of competition, in terms of viability, in terms of visibility. Without this, it becomes very difficult to attract that kind of money.
"I want our Kenya Premier League to attract prize monies of 30, 40, 50 million per season. It is possible.
"But how do you attract the resources? There has to be a product that is sellable and a product that the corporates are willing to buy and Kenyans are willing to embrace."
FKF's next course of action
Mohammed will, at the moment, be focused on the upcoming Africa Nations Championships, which he has promised will be a success.
Despite widespread fears, Kenya has managed to be ready on time to host the competition with Uganda and Tanzania.
Kenya will provide the Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums, where Group A matches will be played. Afterwards, Kasarani will host one quarter-final and the final on August 30.
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Video of Nyayo Stadium ahead of CHAN 2024
In a separate report, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya handed over a complete Nyayo Stadium to the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
The stadium will host CHAN 2024 Group A games, save for Harambee Stars matches.
Harambee Stars will play all their four group games at the Kasarani Stadium.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
