The Government through the Ministry of Sports yesterday gave an assurance of clearing the delayed salary of Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat as well as members of his technical bench.
Whilst it has been a norm for the state to cater for the salaries of the national football team coaches, a source has told People Daily Sport that Firat has gone for six month without pay and the Turkish coach has already received two big offers that may tempt him if the situation persists.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba yesterday expressed his desire to get the pending dues settled, noting that there is a framework to ensure the national team tactician is well taken care of towards achieving an immediate and long term target of getting Harambee Stars to the 2025 African Cup of Nations and 2026 FIFA World Cup respectively.
“I am fully aware of the government obligations towards our national football teams and I can assure you that we are working closely to play our role that includes paying the team’s head coach and his assistants so that they can prepare our teams accordingly.
I am optimistic that everything will fine since it is a matter being taken care of,” said Namwamba.
The Ministry of Sports produced a milestone gesture in support of the Harambee Stars and Starlets after it presented a funding of Sh 24m, money that will be distributed to the two teams for the upcoming international assignments.
The money will cater for the travel and the allowances of Harambee Stars players and technical bench for the four-nations tournament in Mauritius that is kicking off on this Sunday.
Part of the cash will be used to support the Junior Harambee Starlets team for the CECAFA Women’s U-18 tournament that will be hosted here in Nairobi from June 24.
“As a government we are committed towards giving necessary support for our teams,we know for them to do well in international competitions,they need to prepare well and we are here to show that devotion for both Harambee Stars and Starlets.
We want to ensure that players’ dues,tickets and accomodations are settled on time so that the teams can focus on delivering the desired results.
I believe if we want to get somewhere as a country in football we should focus on team proper preparations because failing to plan is equivalent of planning to fail.,” Namwamba added.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa was thankful to the government after receiving the monitory boost.
“This a good day for us.It is a really good show from the government and the Ministry of Sports that we can come here together and talk about these things of supporting our teams.
I am thankful that now we are backed by the State, starting with President William Ruto and the minister Namwamba and therefore it is a good sign that once again we join hands to talk and plan about our football,” Mwendwa told journalists. Harambee Stars concludes a week-long training today and will embark on a journey to Ma
