KPL's image on the line

Courtesy of Robin Toskin/The Standard Group

They may have spent a decade trying to build a credible, competitive Kenyan Premier League.

Yet by the click of a mouse, the KPL CEO Jack Oguda let out a cat — a big one for that matter, when a scandalous e-mail addressed to the league’s chairman, Bob Munro saying AFC Leopards "have hit the nail in their coffin" has left the league body rocking.

The officials, both in KPL and AFC Leopards were still haggling over the semantics of the phrase.

Leopards’ swift and hard-hitting response is worrying. Leopards chairman Alex ole Magelo, said: "The gloves are off. The correspondence with the chairman is in bad taste and it confirms our fears of certain people in KPL working to condemn AFC Leopards to a death bed," Magelo said.

Oguda was at pains to explain how the letter he authored strayed to Richard Ekhalie’s e-mail box.

He said: "I wrote the mail but the words in question do not mean what Leopards have interpreted. I meant that if such institutional clubs like Tusker are queuing for the SuperSport grant, what would be the effect on a community supported club like Leopards."

My take is that with such frosty relations between Leopards and the KPL and anybody related to Mathare United, utmost caution should be taken in dealing with arising matters.

It is on record that Leopards still feel aggrieved over the manner they were relegated. There is the matter of Nairobi City Stars and Leopards’ aborted match on February 8. Neutrals feel that all avenues should be open to allow aggrieved parties access all corridors of justice.

By insisting the Independent Disciplinary and Appeals Committee decisions were final and binding, it lends more ammunition to dissenting voices.

KPL would do well to come clear of what is going on lest that stray email open a Pandora’s Box that could plunge the premier league into turmoil.