Joint body to unlock Kenyan football impasse

The composition of Kenya's domestic top-flight league will be decided by a joint task force of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and administration body Kenyan Premier League (KPL) following FIFA mediated talks here Friday.

FKF and KPL have been locked in bitter dispute with the former pressing to expand the competition to 18 teams and the latter adamant on sticking to current 16 in a dispute that has threatened to derail the country's football, reports Xinhua.

South Africa's veteran FIFA administrator Ashford Mamelodi, Robert Niemann and James Johnson were in the world governing body team that flew to the country to unlock the impasse that has dominated headlines for the past month.

"Arising from the deliberations, it was agreed FIFA will make available a consultant who will hold meetings with the federation, KPL and all stakeholders before making recommendations," FKF president Sam Nyamweya and KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier said in a joint statement.

FKF sparked off the divisions last month by declaring the 2015 top-flight would feature 18 teams, elevating Shabana FC, Posta Rangers, Kakamega Homeboyz and Nakumatt FC to the expanded competition with Nairobi City Stars and Top Fry Nakuru demoted to the National Super League.

After resistance from KPL, FKF further ordered all clubs featuring in the competition plus the new boys to register with them on or before Dec 15 with KPL ordered to change into FKF Premier League or otherwise, the federation would seek another company to administer the league on their behalf.