Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, have been invigorated with a significant financial contribution from Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The visit, led by Bunge FC captain and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, took place on Wednesday, July 30, at the team’s training facility located at the Police Sacco Stadium.
During the visit, the parliamentarians presented a financial token of Ksh1 million, sourced from their contributions. This gesture, dubbed a morale booster for the local players, underscores the MPs’ commitment to supporting the national team as they gear up for their critical debut against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
Otiende Amollo spoke passionately about the significance of the tournament and the need for national unity around the team.
“We visited the team in our capacity as Bunge FC — the football team in the Kenyan parliament — to encourage the boys and to ensure everything is well and ready before the big game on Sunday. We have a token of Ksh1 million from members’ personal contributions as our way of lifting their morale. Most of these players play locally and might not be privileged as their foreign-based counterparts, and so we thought this would go a long way in boosting their morale,” said Amollo.
Supporting him, the team’s vice-captain and Embakasi South MP Musili Mawathe urged supporters to create an electrifying atmosphere during the match. He called for the stadium to be adorned in red in alignment with the team’s colors, rallying fans to wear their red jerseys.
“The team will put on their red jersey on Sunday, and therefore I urge all Kenyans coming to Kasarani to put on their red jerseys and cheer the team as loudly as possible. This is a historic moment for the nation,” Mawathe emphasized.
The delegation comprised several other prominent politicians, including Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, and Kipkelion East MP Joseph Cherorot. They were also joined by former Kenyan international and Bunge FC coach George Sunguti, adding a layer of motivation and expertise to the visit.
This latest donation of Ksh1 million follows a previous generous contribution of Ksh5 million from President William Ruto during his visit on July 16, along with smaller donations from Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya (Ksh500,000) and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed (Ksh200,000) when the team first reported to their training camp.
As the national team gears up for an important tournament, the support from the government and the entertainment community illustrates a unifying effort to back Harambee Stars in their quest for glory on the continental stage. The partnership between MPs and the national team serves as a strong reminder of the potential for sports to unite a nation, fueled by shared aspirations and hopes for success.
