Okatwa welcomes high court decision, shifts focus to team success

Nairobi United head coach Paul Okatwa has welcomed the decision by the High Court sitting in Nairobi on Wednesday that temporarily handed his side reprieve after the Football Kenya Federation acquired leave to institute Judicial Review proceedings seeking to quash the decision of the Sports Disputes Tribunal.

In September, the tribunal ordered that Nairobi United be left out of the fixtures after Zoo FC filed a case at the tribunal challenging the ruling of FKF’s Leagues and Competitions Committee that ratified United’s promotion and slapped Zoo FC with more sanctions after the playoff match between the two sides was aborted in the final minutes.

After the directions issued by the Tribunal, the federation moved to the High Court seeking to quash the ruling, and on Wednesday, they were handed orders that also served as a reprieve to Nairobi United, who have agonizingly been waiting for the white smoke from the corridors of justice.

With the orders it meant that the Naibois could take back to the field with their first match set for Sunday against Silibwet Leons at Kasarani Annex and coach Okatwa believes it did justice to his squad that has been honing their skills in readiness to jostle again in the league.

Reprieve for Nairobi United as High Court grants FKF orders

The former Kangemi All Stars coach noted that prolonged decision-making on the case was taking a toll on his team preparations and having to deal with some of the young talent in the profession in some instances killed the passion in most of them.

“I am happy that we can play again after that long standoff, though it is not yet over but at least my players can be assured of game time and progress in what is going on in the court corridors. Dealing with young players is fun and tough in some instances, for example, when you keep them waiting for a decision and they are not playing, it is not going to sit well with them at all,” offered the former AFC Leopards striker.

On his hand, Okatwa expressed a sigh of relief suggesting that he can now put all his efforts into sharpening the team to achieve their set objectives for the season which primarily he says is guiding the National Super League money bags to Football Kenya Federation Premier League at their first time of asking.

“After all these court battles at least, we now focus and push towards our season objective which is earning promotion to the big stage. We started the season well and that can give a sneak preview of what to expect from us this campaign,” he added.

NSL: Assad out to stop red hot Naivas as Kisumu All Stars entertain Kibera Black Stars

United are currently ranked eighth on the log having played two less games but have a chance of joining the promotion chasing pack with a win over Silibwet Leons on Sunday.