AFC Leopards coaches are concerned that the continued procrastination of the Kenyan Premier League season will throw their preparations into disarray.
Speaking on Monday, assistant coach Tom Juma and goalkeeper trainer Lawrence Lebo both agreed that the situation in the country has left them more befuddled than ever.
There have been mixed signals coming from both the government-backed Football Kenya Federation Transition Committee and expelled federation chairman Nick Mwendwa.
“As things stand, it is becoming increasingly difficult for coaches to plan for their teams because no one knows exactly when the competition will start. The wrangling parties should sit down to resolve their differences. We are already getting tired of waiting," Juma said.
Goalkeeper trainer Lawrence Webo hoped that the Cabinet Secretary-designate for Sports, Ababu Namwamba, will move quickly to straighten matters.
“He comes out to me as a knowledgeable person who can bring the current standoff to an end. We need a CS who can handle this matter with the kind of sobriety it deserves," Webo said.
The duo has joined a growing list of local tacticians who have come out in the open to censure the warring parties for stalling Kenyan football.
Only last week, embattled FKF president Nick Mwendwa hinted at regaining access to football leadership. His statement has sent chills down the spine of local football stakeholders who now fear that the country will have to wait much longer before topflight action can resume. Mwendwa said he would soon provide official dates for the new season.
“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.
His statement left the country more befuddled after the FKF Transition Committee also promised to announce dates for the competition. Days earlier, the Transition Committee had 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.
This even as 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.
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.
