The federation obeyed the court order on Friday by reinstating the two teams, with Mathare United set to take on Sofapaka on January 14 in their first match of the season, while Zoo will open the season with a match against Bandari FC at Afraha Stadium on January 9.
FKF President Nick Mwendwa has now told
Goal they had no issues to have the teams reinstated but pointed out they will not receive any grants from the sponsors, as is the case with the other teams, because they have not signed the endorsement.
“We said we will do it, to have the teams back in the league because we don’t have issues with them [the teams] and we also respect the courts,” Mwendwa told
Mathare United to open season against Gor Mahia, Zoo handed Bandari Goal 01/01/2021 Kiplagat Sang
The Football Kenya Federation have released the new Premier League fixtures after Mathare United and Zoo FC were reinstated by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT).
The two top tier sides had been expelled after they objected to the StarTimes broadcasting deal, but after Zoo moved to SDT, the FKF expulsion notice was stayed by the tribunal’s chair John Ohaga and the federation ordered to allow the clubs to participate in the league.
Mathare United will consequently begin their campaign against Gor Mahia on January 14. As Mathare will be starting their season, the rest of the teams would have played six games already and the Slum Boys will have to try and catch up, as most of their fixtures have been congested into a two-week period.