This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
On February 2, 2020, Mathare United FC's Lennox Ogutu and Promise Chinonso faced off in a Kenyan Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium.
The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has announced plans to resume the league, despite the Football Kenya Federation's (FKF) decision to end the 2019/20 season.
However, not all clubs are on board with the decision. Kisumu All Stars and Western Stima management have expressed resistance, citing financial and physical constraints.
"We received communication from FKF that the league is over and we followed the directive and released all the players until further notice," said Nicholas Ochieng, CEO of Kisumu All Stars.
"Financially we cannot. Most of the new Fifa rules all clubs will have to adhere to means money which for us, a county government-sponsored club, has to be budgeted for and approved at the beginning of the season," Ochieng added.
Western Stima boss Laban Jobita also expressed concerns, stating that it would be impossible for clubs to play within the short period and will need about two months to prepare.
"We budgeted for the season from August last year to June. Most contracts have or will expire in the next few days and to come up with a competitive team now will be hard," Jobita said.
On the other hand, clubs like AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz, Bandari, and Wazito are ready to resume the league.
"We are title contenders and we are more than ready to fight to the end. We are sorting out every guideline issued by Fifa and we are ready to implement the same to our players in matters to do with Covid-19 prevention and health status of the team," said Bernard Shitiabayi, Kakamega Homeboyz.
