Kenyan soccer officials refuse to resign

NAIROBI, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) officials refused to resign following Confederation of African Football's ban on Kenyan clubs for late payment of participation fee, the Standard newspaper reported Tuesday.

Some football administrators and the Commissioner of Sports, Gordon Oluoch, on Monday asked the federation's top brass to quit for their costly ineptitude.

However, FIFA-backed chairman, Mohammed Hatimy, blamed CAF for the ban.

"We are deeply concerned that the situation is getting worse yet the Government has been sidelined. We have been reported to FIFA as interfering," Oluoch said.

"Clearly there is a problem, but because KFF burnt bridges and their selfish leadership, it is impossible for them to come back to the Government for technical, financial and material assistance," he said, adding that KFF should call a meeting to resolve the crisis.

He said if they had proof that they paid the money, then they should appeal to CAF.

Former national football team Harambee Stars manager, Hussein Terry, called on the officials to quit, saying as administrators, they should know better than fail to observe deadlines.

"They should just quit. If not, the incoming Sports minister should disband the federation without being afraid of FIFA. I believe FIFA would not condone the harm this ban would do to Tusker (club) and Kenyan football," he said.

But Hatimy said: "As long as we paid the money, we will not resign. If CAF banned us, why did they not write to Al Tahrir not to travel to Nairobi? They even appointed a match commissar. Those making noise and their stooges will not stop us from discharging our duties."