FKFPL clubs embrace CAF licensing workshop towards professional excellence

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FOOTBALL FKFPL clubs embrace CAF licensing workshop towards professional excellence

Mark Kinyanjui 17:33 - 04.08.2023

The club licensing workshop is seen as an instrumental relationship in professionalizing the Kenyan top flight football league.

All the 18 teams that will be taking part in the 2023/2024 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season sent representatives to the Confederation of African Football (CAF)  club licensing workshop held in Nairobi on Friday morning.

The workshop aimed to familiarize the clubs with the FKF draft regulations and solicit their feedback on the same.

It comprehensively covered various aspects around the game, ranging from sporting, to infrastructural, legal, personal to administrative ones.

Additionally, the clubs were sensitized about the potential sanctions should they fail to meet the licensing criteria.

“We are determined to elevate the standard of our leagues and, by working together, we can ensure our clubs meet the necessary criteria, contributing to our collective objective of achieving a truly professional football league,” remarked FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

He further highlighted the repercussions of a team failing the club licensing process.

“If, for instance, a team fails to meet the club licensing requirements, other teams may refuse to play against them, resulting in walkovers. This, in turn, diminishes the league’s commercial value, posing challenges to its monetization and significantly impacting the entire league,” explained FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

Clubs actively engaged in the workshop, providing their invaluable input to shape the final club licensing regulations.

Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir spoke in glowing terms on the importance of the workshop, saying the initiative would be instrumental in professionalizing the Kenyan top flight football league.

“We have gained invaluable insights on the necessary steps that clubs must take to obtain the club licensing certification, allowing us to compete in the top-tier league. This knowledge is vital as we strive to professionalize our leagues,” Korir said.

Kenya Police CEO Chris Oguso shared the steps taken by his club to obtain the club licensing certificate.

“We have successfully acquired Kenya Police Bullets FC to represent our women’s football team. Moreover, we have incorporated them into our payroll system and offered them an opportunity to be enlisted in the police force to give them a future after their football careers. 

“ Ensuring our players receive their monthly dues is one of our top priorities. In terms of infrastructure, we have the police Sacco stadium and maintain a well-structured secretariat hierarchy.”

He further emphasized the significance of providing medical cover for the players, stating, “When a player sustains an injury, having medical cover is crucial for their recovery process. If well taken care of, it can expedite their return to the field. In contrast, without medical cover, expenses can escalate, and the player’s football journey may be abruptly shortened.”

Clubs will have to meet the mandatory requirements to be able to be given a license to compete in all domestic competitions.

The deadline for clubs to submit documents for their club licensing certificate in the Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP) will be on Saturday, August 12, 2023, and afterward will be sent to the First Instance Board for reviewing and issuance of certificates.

The club licensing process will also cut across the women’s leagues, as well as the National Super League clubs in due course.

Club licensing is a regulatory system established by the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) to ensure that football clubs participating in CAF competitions meet specific standards and criteria encompassing sporting, infrastructure, administrative, legal, and financial aspects.

As fronted by World governing body FIFA through respective confederations, Club licensing is designed to improve club football by targeting key areas in club governance and youth football.