Handball: KHF set to run a two-tier league, finally
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 24.06.24. | 10:35
Previous proposals to have the men's league split into two have gone unexecuted as the federation cited a lack of funds
After years of playing a round-robin format in the men's league, the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) is finally starting a two-legged, two-tiered men's league.
While the finer details are yet to be agreed on as a pre-season stakeholders' meeting will deliberate on such before the new season, KHF has confirmed that the top-tier league will have 12 teams.
The rest of the teams will form a national league with the number of teams to be agreed upon during the stakeholders' meeting. This season 25 men's teams were supposed to compete but Buccaneers Juniors did not honour any of their matches.
"This move is long overdue,” said federation fixtures secretary Charles Omondi. "We want to involve the club as there are fundamental changes to the top tier clubs that need to be agreed on before we can chart the way forward.”
Previous proposals to have the men's league split into two have gone unexecuted as the federation cited a lack of funds. Omondi admitted they are still facing the same challenge but acknowledged the changes are part of the federation's plans to lure more sponsors as the league will be more competitive and better structured.
"We are yet to decide on the criteria of splitting the teams. We will leave that to the stakeholders as we hope that the plan will be put into motion before we play the pre-season Super Cup," he added.
Omondi says some of the requirements for top-tier league teams will include coaching staff levels of qualification, and player welfare among other things. "We have to give these players and teams a product that will be worth their investment in the league,” he added.
Dates for the stakeholder meeting as well as the Super Cup will be released before the end of the week as the federation looks to start the new season in August.
