Deposed Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa and his merry band of acolytes were booted out of Kandanda House by a seething Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed a fortnight ago and the erstwhile suppressed football fraternity rose up in ululation.So toxic and choking has Mwendwa’s administration been over the last six years that only those who directly benefitted financially or otherwise retained sympathy for him in the wake of a contestable ouster.Two weeks down the line, the Caretaker Committee – majorly comprised of the ‘who you knows’ rather than proven administrators of the game – has sent Kenyan football on the precipice. The fall, if not broken, might leave local football more injured as much as the dreaded FIFA ban.The FKF caretaker committee should have by now created social handles to save us from the confusion of the likes of Barry Otieno and his ilk.— Michael Odock (@Odockmike) November 24, 2021 Worryingly, it has taken the committee two weeks to meet clubs. Two weeks! The committee released an ambiguous plan and so far there’s not a distant sniff of the broth they are supposed to be preparing. Simply put, this does not inspire any confidence.Doubts over the Caretaker Committees’ ability are starting to sprout, even among opponents of Mwendwa. While the saga will rumble within boardrooms and courtrooms football lovers want the game running.FKF inform Gor Mahia that their hands are tied and can’t organise for their match against AS Otoho efficiently after GoK disbandment and appointment of the caretaker Committee to run football matters pic.twitter.com/hwDH9vQZQE— Kenyan F⚽otball (@KenyaPremierLg) November 23, 2021 The minister appears to have acted haphazardly. The anxiety is heavy. A clearer way forward what next for the most loved sport within the country would go a long way in reaffirming support to the Committee from stakeholders of the game.Football is a game of the people. Too much secrecy is breeding mistrust, the same offense Mwendwa’s administration and those who preceded him have been accused of.It is imperative that the Committee clears the air with a comprehensive plan on resumption of football. The Ministry of Sports equally owes Kenyans a plan on the way forward regarding football management in the country.FKF Premier League matches are to resume this week, as per Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Caretaker Committee announcement last Saturday; The team was to coordinate meeting with KPL and clubs chairmen to plan on how the top-tier league will be run pic.twitter.com/VAEENgYBEk— Kenyan F⚽otball (@KenyaPremierLg) November 23, 2021 What is the plan after Mwendwa’s ouster? Is the ministry able to navigate the tricky paths of FIFA and CAF to deliver this game safely to the next level?The deposed administration already raised issues regarding CAF Confederation games. How is the Caretaker Committee engaging with CAF to ensure Tusker and Gor Mahia fixtures are successfully staged in the country?The refurbished Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums have a few fabrications to complete before the amber is shown from regulators, otherwise the next phase of international fixtures will be staged in neighboring Tanzania, or Uganda.The government interference with FKF by imposing a caretaker committee is what will get us banned. We are fans of football and we want to see great things happening to football in Kenya, if that ban is what it takes for better leadership hapo FKF, so be it.— Mugasto (@mugasto) November 22, 2021 And it is not a joke. Kenya’s fixture against Mali was played in Morocco because their stadiums were dimmed unfit to host international fixtures. Gor Mahia and Tusker have been allowed to host one leg of Confederation Cup play-offs at Nyayo.Should they qualify for group stages they will be forced to find alternative venues in neighboring countries to host group fixtures. That should concern the diplomat that has stirred Kenyan football into current inertia.Said this when it was formed and still stand by it, majority of the people selected to FKF Caretaker Committee and Secretariat do not inspire any confidence. Feel like there is a game being played and it’s ultimate goal is NOT to help the Kenyan football or footballer. Hmmmm.— Warothe Kiru (@warothe) November 22, 2021 Back to league resumption, the sole corporate sponsor of top-flight football at the time of Mwendwa’s ouster, Startimes, are in the dark, three days to the ‘planned return to football leagues. No one has shared or leaked fixtures, if at all the league will resume.There is also talk of dissent from the whistler’s community. Whether or not the referees will take charge of the games under Caretaker Committee remains a huge query.All in all Kenyans want to watch football, local football and international football, in safe, approved international stadiums.
