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As things stand, Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia will not fly the country’s flag at the upcoming Caf Champions League tournament scheduled to kick off early next year.
The 59th edition of the annual premier inter-club showpiece begins on February 10 with 48 teams competing for the continental title and a chance to play in the Fifa Club World Cup.
Caf’s shock decision to disqualify K’Ogalo might force Kenya to look for an alternative representative. Gor’s certificate was withdrawn by the Football Kenya Federation’s First Instance Body (FIB) due to violations of Article 60 of the Confederation of African Football’s men’s club licensing rules.
According to the article, every club requesting a license must demonstrate that there are no outstanding payables to current or former personnel as of March 31st of the year in which the Caf club competitions begin.
If the license applicant has overdue payables as of March 31 of the year in which the Caf club competitions begin, it shall have a grace period of two months to prove that by the following May 31, such overdue payables have been fully settled or deferred by mutual agreement with the creditor.
FKF said upon consultation, Gor declared they had no overdue payables and even indicated the existence of two agreements with two former players – Sando Yangayay and Adama Keita.
The parties involved in the disputes reportedly agreed to specific payment terms and penalties, and as such, the club was given a license to grace the 2023-2024 Caf men’s inter-club competitions.
However, on July 18, Caf informed both Gor Mahia and FKF about a complaint filed with Fifa by Congolese Sando Yangaya, citing the club’s failure to pay his dues as agreed.
Caf gave Gor 24 hours to settle all the outstanding amounts failure to which their licence would be invalidated.
The FKF First Instance Body — an independent decision-making body set up by all Caf member associations to review clubs’ license applications — sought an extension of the deadline given by Caf.
The body gave Gor Mahia until July 20, 4 pm to settle the dues or enter into a new payment plan. It also instructed the club to clear all dues owed to Malian custodian Adama Keita and Burundian forward Jules Ulimwengu.
Unfortunately, Gor Mahia were unable to honour the deadlines set by Caf and FKF had no option but to crack the whip.
The local governing body revoked Gor Mahia’s license under Article 16 8(b) of the Caf club licensing regulations, which states licenses may be revoked for non-compliance with specified conditions.
The record Kenyan champions have since written to FKF asking them to reconsider the decision.
In a letter written to FKF CEO Barry Otieno and copied to the head of Caf Club Licensing Muhammad Sidat, K’Ogalo chairman Ambrose Rachier said they had fulfilled all the requirements.
The club promised to table evidence confirming that all the overdue payables to the said players had been duly remitted.
Caf introduced a raft of new rules on club licensing that took effect this season, including a clause requiring all top-flight clubs to own a women’s side or enter into a written agreement with an entity operating a women’s team.
Participating clubs must also adhere to five-pillar criteria; sporting, infrastructure, personnel, administrative, legal, and financial. Such costly administrative howlers merely serve to leave the country with an egg on its face.
It’s high time Kenya got rid of inept football administrators who blatantly turn a blind eye to imperative Fifa, Caf, and FKF statutes. BY THE STAR