•The firebrand football administrator spoke after organising a succesful two-week Elite Preseason Tournament that concluded at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
•His statement left the country more befuddled after the FKF Transition Committee also promised to announce dates for the competition.
Image: FILE
For the second time in a month, embattled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has hinted at regaining access to football leadership.
Mwendwa said he would soon provide official dates for the new season.
“Something like this. Now let's train. the true league, the sanctioned one, the one and only FKF Premier league starts end of this month. I'll give you an update this coming week. Let's do this,” Mwendwa said.
The firebrand football administrator spoke after organising a succesful two-week Elite Preseason Tournament that concluded at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The inaugural tournament brought together four topflight and two lower-tier clubs. Kenya Police crushed Nairobi City Stars 2-0 to bag the trophy and the accompanying Sh1 million prize money.
His statement left the country more befuddled after the FKF Transition Committee also promised to announce dates for the competition.
On Friday, the Committee announced the postponement of the 2022-2023 FKF Premier League season for the third time in a month.
In a statement signed by chairman Maurice Oyugi, the TC said its decision had been informed by the cloud of uncertainty surrounding Kenyan football.
“Please note that the kick-off of the 2022/2023 league season has been postponed to a date that will be communicated soon,” the statement read in part.
“The committee has received several requests from clubs to postpone the league until the uncertainty surrounding the league is addressed," reads a statement by the committee.
TC promised to communicate new dates in the coming days.
"The committee would like to inform clubs that the request has been granted and the league kick-off date will be communicated once all stakeholders agree on a way forward. We thank you for your continued support and understanding.”
The decision comes exactly a week after 12 representatives of the Kenyan Premier League caucus met and decided to spurn all competitions that lack the blessings of the world football governing body, Fifa.
The clubs were reacting to an earlier statement released by the Committee's head of secretariat, Linda Oguttu, that communicated the new dates for the Kenyan Premier League season.
Oguttu noted they had decided to postpone the league given a significant number of clubs had requested to participate in the Kecoso games.
Nairobi City Stars chief executive officer, Patrick Korir, said they were trying to avoid a repeat of last season's scenario where Tusker's successful title hunt counted for nothing after they were barred from the international stage.
“We don't want a similar situation to happen in the future. That's why we are keen to have a league that is recognized by Fifa,” Korir said.
“Clubs have been preparing for the new season, but we have seen a lot of confusion surrounding the league dates,” he added.
“We will only be certain of the kick-off date the day a Fifa sanctioned football body will be put in place,” Korir said.