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Two FKF Premier League coaches lament of financial struggle affecting players
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 02.01.25. | 12:45
There have been renewed calls on the newly elected Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials to make the situation a priority this year
There have been several reports of non-payment of players by teams in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) and two coaches have called for an end to it.
Sofapaka coach Robert Matano says it undermines the competition as those who are not paid luck the motivation to give their best.
“It is very difficult as a coach to motivate your players to continue giving their best on the pitch when they have not been paid for almost six months. It gets to a point where you cannot do it anymore, and this undermines the competitive spirit of the league,” he said.
Matano has called on the newly elected Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials to make turning around this situation a priority this year.
Mara Sugar coach George Midenyo says the impact of non-payment of salaries and delays goes much better than the pitch.
“When teams do not pay salaries on time, it has a ripple effect on the sport," Midenyo said. "First of all, it is unprofessional, and secondly the players, are now forced to look for other things to do in order to make ends meet.
“You find that after training, instead of taking a rest, the player is forced to go and do something else on the side because he has to survive. In the long run, it has an impact on his performance and the team."
The worst impact Midenyo says is how others look at football as a profession.
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“It is difficult with such problems for parents to encourage their children to take up football because they look at us not paying and therefore lack a future. That is how we lose some great talents,” he revealed.
He urged clubs to strive to offer players average salaries and ensure that it is paid on time to ensure players can concentrate on the pitch.
Last week, Posta Rangers midfielder Shami Kibwana admitted that financial problems are at the root of the club’s poor performance in the top league.
The mailmen have picked just two wins from the 15 matches they have played and are rooted at the bottom of the league standings with just 11 points collected so far.
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