Kenya free to compete in Cecafa tournaments

Fifa is not taking action against the KFF, for now Kenya is free to start qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and other tournaments, after Fifa took no action against the country’s divided football federation. There had been threats that Fifa would suspend the KFF after the country’s High Court found in favour of a group of officials not recognised by football’s world governing body. Fifa’s Executive Committee has been meeting in Australia but the Kenya situation was not on the official agenda, and was not discussed. Mohammed Hatimy, who’s authority is recognised by Fifa, was in Sydney for the meeting. The lack of action clears the way for Kenya to kick-off their campaign with an away match against Namibia this weekend. A source at Fifa told the BBC that as long as the team was being organised by the Hatimy-run KFF, they would be free to play. The Kenya Football Federation has been riven by divisions for years. At one stage, two separate leagues were being organised. Now Kenya’s football teams are free to participate in this year’s Cecafa regional tournaments if the impending Fifa ban on Kenya Football Federation (KFF) wasn’t affected. Kenya faced an imminent suspension after failing to meet the deadline handed down by Fifa to break the deadlock between the two feuding bodies running the Kenya Football Federation (KFF). Fifa moved to tell the two KFF factions to put their house in order after a high court ruling in favor of the state-backed executive board which it does not recognize. Kenya Football Federation has been taken over by government-appointed officials whom Fifa does not recognize. Soccer’s world governing body does not tolerate government interference and is preparing to suspend Kenya’s national team from international tournament. Kenya was previously suspended from international football in 2004 and 2006. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga vowed to act without flouting Fifa rules that bar government interference in the sport. The continental football governing body, CAF executive member and Commissioner, Celestin Musabyimana told Times Sport that Kenya couldn’t take part in the regional and continental football championships with a Fifa ban still in hand. Kenya will now participate in the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers which begin late this month. The good news means that Tusker will take part in this year’s Cecafa/Kagame Cup championship set for July 12-26 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kenya is scheduled to face Namibia in Windhoek on May 31 in a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It is also drawn with Guinea and Zimbabwe in the first African group phase. The qualifying campaign also counts toward the 2010 African Cup of Nations. Ends

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Kenya free to compete in Cecafa tournaments