The Football Kenya Federation’s First Instance Body (FIB) – an independent decision-making body set up by all CAF’s member associations – has granted licenses to Tusker, Gor Mahia, KCB and Kenya Police football clubs ahead of the 2024/25 CAF Inter Club Competitions.

The four clubs successfully met the CAF Club Licensing requirements for the upcoming 2024-2025 CAF Men’s Interclub Competitions.

Gor Mahia is set to represent Kenya in the CAF Champions League while KCB and Kenya Police will contest the Mozzart Bet Cup final this weekend to determine Kenya’s representative in the CAF Confederations Cup. Tusker, meanwhile, had a realistic chance for qualification by the time of submission of documents.

Background

Club licensing is a key element in promoting the professionalization of football all over the world. The system uses principles-based criteria and sets minimum standards that clubs must satisfy to be licensed and, consequently, be able to participate in each competition.

The objectives of the club licensing process are promoting and improving of the quality and the level of all football aspects in Kenya by:

1. Ensuring that clubs have the appropriate infrastructure, knowledge, and application in respect of management and organization.

2. Adapting and improving the club’s sporting infrastructure;
Improving the economic and financial capacity of the clubs, through proper corporate governance and control.

3. Ensuring and guaranteeing the sustainability of local and international competitions of clubs during the season.

4. Allowing the parallel development and comparison amongst clubs by ensuring the necessary compliance in terms of financial, sporting, legal, administrative, and infrastructure criteria.

All clubs that qualify for the CAF Inter Club competitions based on sporting merit must be granted a license before they can participate.

As a result, the four clubs were required to apply for their licenses through the CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP) by the June 13, 2024, deadline.

The clubs were evaluated on five criteria pillars: Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administration, Legal and Financial, and handed licenses upon scrutiny of the documents submitted by the FIB.

In the meantime, the FIB will continuously provide guidance to clubs throughout the season and has the authority to revoke licenses should the clubs fail to adhere to the set regulations.

Also read: Kenya Police Bullets Crowned Champions of the 2023/24 FKF Women’s Premier League