KENYAN topflight league clubs have refused to play football until the impasse between the country’s government and Fifa has been resolved.
Like Zimbabwe, Kenya was banned by Fifa over government interference in the administration of the game.
The two nations are banned from taking part in any Fifa-sanctioned event and were booted out of continental competitions for both the national teams and the clubs.
Kenyan football teams have taken a stand to stop playing in the topflight league, hoping to force their government to mend its relations with Fifa.
Locally, football players have been taking to social media to express their frustrations at the ban on Zimbabwe by Fifa, also hoping to influence the local authorities to act to get the ban lifted.
Recently, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) said getting the ban lifted was not one of its priorities, but would rather press on with its Zifa restructuring exercise which could culminate in elections next year.
It is unlikely, however, that Fifa will endorse the outcome of the Zifa elections because the global football body has stressed that the ban on Zimbabwe can only be lifted if Zifa board members Felton Kamambo, Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule are reinstated.
They lost their posts after the board was dissolved by the SRC last year over alleged maladministration.
While the local players have been using social and conventional media to get the message to the authorities, their Kenyan counterparts have taken a more radical approach.
According to the Nation, Gor Mahia chief executive Raymond Oruo read a joint statement from the 18 topflight clubs, saying the teams would only honour fixtures when the current stalemate between Fifa and the Kenyan government is resolved.
The clubs on Wednesday said they would not take part in the 2022/23 season.
“We will not take part in any competition that is not recognised or sanctioned by the world governing body because it is a waste of investment and time and very little return coming through,” Oreo said.
He said the failure of Kenyan club Tusker to participate in the Caf Champions League was one of the issues which informed their decision.
In Zimbabwe’s case, FC Platinum, who was supposed to represent the country in the next edition of the Caf Champions League, will not be allowed to participate.
