Kenya clubs are at risk of missing out on Confederation of African Football (Caf) competitions if they fail to adhere to the new set of rules and regulations released by the African body.
This is after Caf issued new club-licensing guidelines that all clubs qualified to play in their competitions from next season must comply with by the deadline day of June 30 or risk being disqualified.
In Kenya, Gor Mahia, Tusker, and Kakamega Homeboyz are on course to earn tickets for continental action. While Gor and Tusker are fighting it out for the FKF Premier League title, which earns a Champions League ticket, the Brewers are also in the race to win the Mozzart Bet FKF Cup as they are scheduled to face Homeboyz in the final.
Read Also: Advantage Gor Mahia as Tusker fall to late Wazito FC defeat
The domestic Cup winners are guaranteed a direct ticket to the Confederation Cup and one of the requirements set by Caf for clubs to have is an active women’s football team.
A letter from Caf sent to member associations including FKF read in part: “A club must have a letter from the member association confirming the existence of the club’s women’s first team and that the team is registered in official competitions played at a national, regional, or local level recognised by the member association.”
The letter added: “If they do not, they must have a written working agreement with existing women’s clubs.”
This will put Kenyan clubs at risk of taking part because none of those fighting for continental tickets have a women’s team in their ranks.
In another requirement, the African body are seeking for the teams to use approved stadia for their matches. This will be another tall order for the clubs as Kenya’s top stadia Kasarani and Nyayo are currently not approved to stage Caf or Fifa matches because they don’t meet the required standards.
Meanwhile, the third requirement is for the clubs to declare in writing that they do not have overdue payments towards former or current players and coaches. Gor Mahia are currently leading the 18-team league table with 67 points, two more than Tusker with only two matches remaining to conclude the season.