'Improve football standards to make Kenya competitive', Okwemba tells FKF

Former Harambee Stars midfielder Charles Okwemba has asked the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to improve football standards to make Kenya competitive at the international level.

Okwemba’s sentiments come shortly after Nairobi United finished bottom of Group 'B' in the CAF Confederations Cup with zero points in six matches.

“Soccer standards in our country have dwindled and this has made it impossible for our teams to compete on the international platform.

Any sober person following our football closely can agree with me that we are not hitting the levels expected of a proper football talented country,” Okwemba said.

According to the former AFC Leopards player, FKF must recognize its significant role, with the help of football stakeholders, in achieving this.

“The federation also has a big role to play to ensure we move forward as a nation that has football at heart. We have to make sure that we get back the glory days and as such we should take this collectively.”

“Clubs should also play their part as well as coaches, players and fans since this should be handled as a family assignment,” Okwemba underscored.

 KPL champions Kenya Police were knocked out of CAF Champions League in the preliminary stage - the norm for Kenyan representatives in international tournaments – in the recent past.

“It is not a lie and so what is happening to Nairobi, Kenya Police or Kenyan representatives on the international scene is a clear reflection of where we are as a country in matters football.

So the earlier we realize this the better so that we can swiftly get serious and start doing what is needed to get our football back to where it should be,” Okwemba concluded.

This was United’s maiden appearance in the international tournament which they qualified for after winning the FKF Cup last year, same as Kenya Police who won the league title for the first time last year to represent the country in the CAF Champions League.