In reports that are bound to raise temperatures in certain quarters
and cement hardline positions in others, the Football Kenya Federation
has warned of dire consequences should Extreme Sports Limited, the
company that runs the Sportpesa Super 8 League, go ahead and organise
a tourney without their blessings.
In a strongly worded communique to
the the private entity, the FKF insists all football activities within the frontiers of this nation must get direct endorsement from its secretariat.
GUNS BLAZING
The Sportpesa Super 8 League continues to provide a perfect platform for hundreds of players unable to showcase their skills in the top tier and sell their wares.
Such tournaments bridge the yawning gap that exists between football at lower levels, aptly referred to as the
grassroots, and the premier division, the creme de la creme of the game this part of the world.
Constitutions, rules and regulations
aside, public opinion strongly suggests it is at this lower level that the future of the sport in this country lies. It only requires astructured approach, fine blueprint and commitment from all stakeholders of goodwill involved to shepherd it to fruition and make it a reality.
It therefore somewhat defies logic when the national office, that should task itself with taking the lead in such crucial matters, can instead come out guns blazing and try shoot down an idea that is steadily taking shape.
By pointing out at every given opportunity that the Super 8 League is an unsanctioned tournament not recognised in elite football circles never mind Kenya, the federation comes across
as an organisation on self destruct mode, literally. They may (un)knowingly be at war with themselves.
The Super 8 can cheekily be compared to a household child trying to fight for space in an ever competitive world only to run into high hurdles and deadly snares ignominiously placed in their path by the very parents that gave them
a coveted chance at life.
Which begs the question; with such threats, intimidations and high end
tactics, where are we headed as a football nation?
Keen observers may be faulted for daring to imagine personal vendettas
are at play here, but at times the supremacy wars stoop to such low
levels the country cannot help feeling an element of gargantuan egoism.
Granted, it is the thousands of youth at the centre of these hardline stances that stand to lose out big time.
The case of a young Umeme player, a pro wannabe, springs to mind.
Down at the Kenyan coast in Mombasa, the red carpet was recently rolled out to signify a grand entry by organisers of the Super 8 series. Its all systems go that side.
In Nairobi meanwhile, the seat of the football state, some high ranking operatives are busy sparring with shadows in the dark and to add salt to injury most of the FKF officials who are trying to cause trouble were once cordinators at extreme sports and almost all of them had their teams participate in the Super 8 tournaments then the big question is what changed since then and why the sudden change of heart now ?
