http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/football/-/1102/675844/-/10j2dqj/-/index.html

Controversy hits Stars vs Nigeria match

In Summary

* KFF say they are in charge of qualifier as rival body refuses to give up control

The Kenya Football Federation on Friday moved to take control of Harambee Stars’ crucial Sh17-million-shilling World Cup qualifier against Nigeria’s Super Eagles next month naming a three-man local coaching panel to pick Kenya’s squad for the November 14 game.

In a move that re-ignites the ceaseless power battle over the control of the game in Kenya, KFF chairman Sam Nyamweya sought his team’s strength from the recent Vimal Shah report on the management of football in Kenya that, inter alia, says that KFF’s rivals FKL was improperly constituted.

The KFF chairman was categorical that the time had come for the national team to be taken seriously, saying that the national head coach, Antoine Hey, had done nothing but fail the country.

“This man (Hey) has really failed us. We now are the laughing stock among many. I just don’t know what he has been doing here. He is always in Germany,” lamented Nyamweya.

“Something had to be done and that’s why we have decided to have three local coaches under the leadership of Ricky Solomon to work on an interim basis and name a team that will report to camp soon for the upcoming match. Plans are also at an advanced stage to print tickets for the match.”

But in a quick reaction, Football Kenya Limited senior vice chairman, Titus Kasuve, termed KFF’s action “a move in futility” saying this (Kenya versus Nigeria) was a Fifa accredited match and only FKL, the recognised federation in the country, were authorised to run it.

“I just don’t want to talk about this issue. I mean, who will ever listen to them (KFF)?” posed Kasuve.

“The match belonged to Fifa and FKL as the local organising federation.”

More than Sh17 million is expected to be raised during the November 14 World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifier at the Moi International Sports Centre.

According to a Sports Stadia Management Board official, who did not wish to be named, the three-tier Moi International Sports Centre can accommodate up to 60,000 fans.

The lower level, which has a capacity for 20,000, can fetch Sh6 million in gate takings, assuming each fan pays the regular Sh300, while the VIP section has a carrying capacity of 10,000 fans. And with each fan parting with Sh500, the section can fetch up to Sh5 million.

The upper section, which is the largest, enjoys a capacity of 30,000 and can fetch Sh6 million if each fan pays the traditional Sh200.

There is little doubt that the November 14 game will draw a full house given the pedigree of the away team that boasts big names such as English Premiership stars Kanu Nwankwo (Portsmouth), Yakubu Ayiegbeni, Joseph Yobo (Everton) and other well established professionals.

KFF is also looking to control the hosting of this year’s Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations’ (Cecafa) Challenge Cup slated for November 28 to December 13, in Kenya.

“We will communicate with the Cecafa secretariat regarding this matter and see how well we can work it out. We want to improve the state of our football and see to it that talent in this country isn’t wasted,” the chairman added.

But Cecafa secretary Nicholas Musonye on Thursday said Cecafa takes charge of all its competitions.

“We don’t want unnecessary confusion in Cecafa. I have said it before and I will repeat now that the Challenge Cup, Kagame Cup, Under-20, Under-17 and women’s tournament all belong to Cecafa - we will not tolerate any inteference,” Musonye said.

And while all the hullabaloo over who controls the November 14 match lingers on, Harambee Stars’ preparations for next month’s make-or-break match get under way this Sunday when 17 players report to camp at Kasarani.

Five local players have been included in this final match against Nigeria in the World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifiers, a must win for Kenya.

Kenyan Premier League’s top scorer, John Baraza of Sofapaka (12 goals), Abdi Simba (Sofapaka), Jerry Santos (Tusker), Fred Ajwang (Tusker) and Ibrahim Kitawi (Gor Mahia) will fight for a place on the national team.

A Beleaguered Hey is expected back in the country by Sunday afternoon.

Crisis or no crisis. Super Eagles should berra win. . .