The
new date was confirmed by the office of the Chair of Leagues at the Football
Kenya Federation.
The
delay was occasioned by a back and forth between team sponsors and the
organizers, the Football Kenya Federation. Owners haggled on how best to cut
costs and cushion the mounting financial obligation laid on them by the
organizers’ fiscal stagnation brought about by structures which have failed to
attract a title sponsor.
The
owners rightfully put it across that teams have had to cater for their league
obligations as well as costs to fund and run the league.
More than 5 Million per teamCurrently, the league is fully sponsored directly and indirectly by the clubs to a tune of more than 240 million Kenya shillings per year. This goes into running their outfits and expenses such as club registration, affiliation fee and player administration fees. Teams also pay for playing fields and foot match officials’ bills.
The
federation coordinates fixtures and arbitrates when there is contention.
The
clubs successfully argued that as the only stakeholders in the league they saw
it fit to not only make it all inclusive but to also come up with clear cut
measures to help teams meet their financial obligations without going overboard
in their allocations.
A
delay to reach an early solution was hampered by coastal representatives who
have always had an expensive outing whenever travelling to play upcountry teams;
there are more teams in Nairobi than coast. They wanted more intra coast
fixtures compared to upcountry.
Format
This
year’s competition will feature 8 new teams (4 in each zone), promoted from the
provincial league. The play,pooling and promotion format is also set to change
and is still at a proposal stage.
Sub zoning zones
It
has been proposed that each zone has 24 teams. The zone will then be divided
into 2, with sub zones of 12 teams each.
-The
teams making the groups have been picked on odd and even basis based on last
season’s performance.
-At
the end of the season, the winners from each group in the zones will meet in
one venue from where the winners will be promoted.
Groupings
Zone
A
Group
1; Bidco
United, Administration Police, Ligi Ndogo, MOYAS, KRA, Green Berets, Congo
(West Ham), Sparki Youth, Maweni City, Kiamabakia Christian Centre (KCC,Meru),
Brighter Stars, Muranga United
Group
2; Admiral,
Mahakama, Kariobangi Sharks, Nairobi Stima, Magongo Rangers, Coast United,
Kibera Celtic, Posta Rangers, Mt. Kenya united, Jericho Allstars, Tala FC,
Nakumatt FC
Zone
B
Group
1;Nzoia
United, Nakuru All Stars, West Kenya Sugar, Zoo Kericho, GFC 105, Timsales,
Shabana, comply, MumCop, ADC Swan Orchards, Kisero, Kolongolo
Group
2;
Oserian, Agro Chemicals, Finlays Horticulture, Hotsprings, Longonot
Horticulture, Kakamega Stars (former Rush FC), Kisumu Municipal, Utawala, St.
Josephs, Raiders, Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre (KYOC), FC Talanta