AFC Leopards will feature in the 2022/23 FKF Transition Committee Premier League regardless of the uncertainties due to the prevailing FIFA suspension and the recent SDT ruling.On the other hand, rivals Gor Mahia, despite continuing with preseason, are not sure whether the league, set for September 10 kick-off, will actually commence.”If the league starts and there’s somebody in charge then we shall play,” Leopards chairman, Dr Dan Shikanda, told Mozzart Sport.Ingwe are scheduled to take on last season’s runners-up Kakamega Homeboyz in their opener on September 11.AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems finally jets backShikanda is not worried about taking part in the season so long as there are efforts to get the FIFA suspension lifted.”If we’re planning to run the league and also planning to sort out the issue with FIFA then I’m not worried. I would have been worried if none of the above was happening,” he opined.Gor Mahia Chief Executive Officer Raymond Oruo on the other hand is doubtful whether the league will proceed as planned as the Transaction Committee is yet to give further directions.”There are things that should happen before a league starts. The league management has not called the clubs to a meeting to tell us this is the plan for the new season. We’re in the dark,” Oruo said.”The league is a whole process, you don’t just wake up and go to play, a lot of things must happen first,” he added.K’Ogalo are booked against Ulinzi Stars on the first day of the new season.Wazito withdraw from the FKF Premier LeagueWazito FC, despite surviving relegation, have said that they will not feature in the forthcoming season until the dark cloud clears.”The push and pull in the game has made it difficult for investors to pump money into the game and it is our hope the issue is resolved as soon as possible,” the club’s statement reads.Despite being crowned champions last season, Tusker FC will not be representing the country in the CAF interclubs due to the FIFA suspension.The suspension also recently prevented Police FC from playing a friendly against Rayon Sports of Rwanda in Kigali.Caretaker Committee had no powers to bypass FKF Judicial bodies, SDT rulesIn a recent Sports Dispute Tribunal, SDT ruling the Transition Committee was found to have run the league without the FKF Standing Committees and Judicial Bodies.”We are soon meeting our lawyers to help us understand the implications of this ruling by the SDT,” Shikanda said.According to some interpretations, the SDT ruling has far-reaching consequences and could mean the 2021/22 football season is nullified.
