Football development expert and Naivas FC technical director George Mwangi has added his voice to the growing calls for the abolition of the FKF Premier League/National Super League (NSL) promotion and relegation playoff system.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsMwangi, a respected figure in Kenyan football circles and a former Murang’a Seal head coach believes the current format is both unfair and counterproductive to the growth of second-tier football.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004557##His comments echo sentiments long held by several NSL stakeholders who have questioned why third-placed teams must face off with top-flight strugglers for a spot in the Premier League.Under the current system, the top two teams in the NSL earn automatic promotion to the FKF Premier League.However, the team that finishes third must play a two-legged playoff against the team that finishes 16th in the FKFPL.The winner over two legs secures the final promotion slot.School Games: Musingu, Kakamega High penalised in scandal over player ineligibilityMwangi argues that this structure overwhelmingly favours FKFPL teams, leaving NSL sides at a disadvantage.“Unequal starting point: At the start of the season, FKF Premier League teams are able to attract the highest-quality players due to better financial resources and visibility,” Mwangi said.“In contrast, National Super League teams often settle for second-tier talent, including lower wage structures and fewer resources.”Football Development Expert and Naivas FC technical director George Mwangi has urged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to abolish the FKFPL/NSL Promotion/Relegation play offs “Why the FKFPL–NSL Promotion/Relegation Playoff Should Be Abolished1. Unequal Starting Point: At… pic.twitter.com/ynmWA5Mpr8— Brian Odhiambo (@Odhiambo_Brian1) July 4, 2025 He also criticized the system for rewarding underperformance from top-tier clubs.“The system unfairly gives struggling FKFPL teams a second chance at survival, while hardworking NSL teams face yet another hurdle after an already demanding season.”REVIEW: Worst season in almost a decade that saw Gor Mahia fail to thrive in chaosMwangi further claimed that officiating during the playoffs is often biased in favour of the Premier League sides, citing the familiarity between top-flight referees and FKFPL players.“Playoffs are often officiated by FKFPL referees who have had season-long interactions with top-flight players, creating an implicit bias and undermining neutrality,” he stated.He also pointed out that the two leagues operate under different competitive and financial environments, making direct playoff competition inherently unbalanced.“Teams in FKFPL and NSL have different seasonal objectives and operate under different competitive pressures. Asking them to compete fairly at the end of the season disregards these disparities and creates an uneven playing field.”##NAJAVA_MECA_9006610##Mwangi concludes by calling on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to scrap the playoff system altogether.“To promote fairness, transparency and reward genuine merit, the federation should abolish the promotion/relegation playoff system and adopt a straightforward automatic promotion and relegation model.”His comments come as FKF continues to float sweeping changes to the country’s league structure beginning next season.Among the proposals is the revival of a zonal NSL format, where the league will be split into two zones of 12 teams each, under the new name Kenyan Super League.The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is reportedly considering introducing a new structure to the National Super League (NSL) starting next season.According to early discussions, the second-tier league could be expanded to accommodate 24 clubs, up from the current 20, with the… pic.twitter.com/GVaTllNxRX— Brian Odhiambo (@Odhiambo_Brian1) June 15, 2025 The top team in each zone will earn automatic promotion to the FKF Premier League, while the bottom three in each zone will drop to the third tier.Beginning with the 2026–2027 season, FKF also plans to maintain the zonal format for the second tier, with a cap of 28 teams in total.While zonal champions will still be promoted automatically, a third promotion slot will be awarded via a two-legged playoff between teams finishing second and third in each zone.
