Alila ‘confident’ of dethroning Mwendwa in FKF polls 

Jacob Icia    Chief football writer

Former Football Kenya Federation National Executive Committee representative of Nyanza region Tom Alila has emerged from obscurity and thrown his hat into the ring for the federation’s presidency in the forthcoming elections.

Alila who took a backseat after declining to defend his seat in the 2016 elections which saw the current president Nick Mwendwa led administration takeover, said he was now ripe to lead the federation.

“I’ve been tried and tested during my tenure in the federation’s administration and now it’s my time to offer and prove my leadership potential basing on my experience as an FKF executive and career administrator,” said Alila.

He points out what he calls a ‘super record’ during his tenure as the FKF Nyanza NEC representative, when Muhoroni Youth and Palos (now Kisumu All Stars) quickly rose to strong forces in the league.

According to Alila, he oversaw the rehabilitation and laying of an astro-turf at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu, which for long has benefited clubs featuring in top leagues, including being home to record champions Gor Mahia.

The initiative(laying of a asto-turf) was a Fifa project targeting several venues across Africa.

Amid the conversation of a strong alliance to unseat Mwendwa, Alila says he is not interested in joining the loose alliance that has brought together several front-runners, among them Nick Musonye, Ludovick Adua, Twaha Mbaraka and Sam Shollei, adding that his vision is clear and cannot be swallowed along the way.

“I have a three-point agenda which is to promote youth development through centres from tender ages of six years for the country’s football future through a partnership with County Governments.

“I respect people’s democratic choices so those who think alliances are the way to go, they are okay to do so. We will meet in the ballot, hoping the person with the best agenda for our beautiful game will take it,” he averred.

Alila is ambitious on securing sponsorship for various leagues once elected, saying he will use his “strong network” to attract financial partners.

“I will use my connections in ensuring that there were have sponsors to for all FKF leagues including women and youth programmes. The idea is to build trust by providing an all-inclusive, sound and transparent management system,” he offered.

Alila has also questioned the wisdom to end  KPL Limited from running the Kenyan Premier League, as already declared by Mwendwa effective September 21.

“People need to talk. We need to have harmony among stakeholders. Provided a company that runs the league does so under the FKF, there is no harm in delegating such a task. In fact, in most elite leagues, companies are running leagues on behalf of associations.

“I also know the task of running all the leagues under FKF is not easy, so delegating is an idea we can’t wish away, provided there is a healthy relationship,” he noted.

In 2011, Alila was elected as the FKF Nyanza NEC representative by garnering 1,174 votes to beat challengers Nicholas Nelson Aketch and David Atieno Ajer.

His wish, with his eyes now firmly fixed on the FKF top job, is to have the elections held before the new season, ‘to avoid confusion going into next year’.”

However, only the world football governing body FIFA will unlock the election stalemate after meeting the Ministry of Sports, FKF and the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) as it declared three months ago.

The latter cancelled the last two elections, in December and March respectively on various questions, the last one principally on the grounds of what was established as unfair eligibility of candidates rules.