Former Sofapaka coach proposes FKF Premier League rule change that will improve Harambee Stars

Singida Black Stars head coach David Ouma wants the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to increase the number of foreign players allowed to take part in the top tier.

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Ouma insists that limiting the number of foreigners has stifled the competitiveness of local players and also affected the performance of the national team, Harambee Stars.

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Currently, local clubs are limited to signing just five foreign players, a tradition that has been there for more than nine years.

But the former Sofapaka and Harambee Starlets coach believes it is time to do away with the rule.

“In Tanzania, clubs are allowed to sign up to 12 foreign players, and this is the reason their league is very competitive.

At Singida we have players from more than ten countries, and we are seeing the results,” he said.

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He added: "When you compare the performance of Taifa Stars to Harambee Stars, the former are doing much better because any local player who gets a chance to play for their team at home is very good, and he takes that competitive spirit to the national team.

If we can change that at home, then we shall see Harambee Stars doing better.”

Ouma insisted that rather than looking for Kenyan players born overseas to come and play for the national team as is the case now, it is better to increase the number of foreign players featuring in the local league as this will have an immediate impact on the performance of Harambee Stars.

Last year, Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier said he would petition FKF to change the rule which came into effect in 2016.

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“It is important to know that the limit of foreign players is still capped at five and surprising to learn that in Tanzania the clubs are allowed to sign 12 (foreign) players,” he argued then.

He said increasing the number of foreign players will give clubs more options, similar to how clubs are allowed to sign up to 40 players when taking part in CAF tournaments.