Stars could have gone to the pitch against Brave warrious without kits

By John Lawrence

Passionate coach Amrouche finds jerseys for Harambee Stars just days before the key match as  Container of sports kits is held at port over Sh10m customs bill

Controversy threatens to overshadow the sweet victory that Harambee Stars had over Namibia on September 8 at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

The Nairobian has learnt that the Stars would have played against Brave Warriors with borrowed jerseys since they had none, just days before the key match.

The national team has revealed that its sports kits had been held up at the Mombasa Port over a Sh10 million customs bill and could not be released since they were cash-strapped.

It took the National Team coach Adel Amrouche’s last minute call to his friend in France to bail out the stars in what was a looming disaster.

“It was a consolidated effort involving all Kenyans and since we work with time, I called on Patrice Horjak (a French friend) for help,” Amrouche told The Nairobian.

“He is not from Kenya but he donated the entire equipment and team kits to the national team after I called asking him for a favour.”

Since FIFA rules does not allow them to play without branded jerseys or training kits, the only option for the Stars was to borrow from their Namibian rivals.

According to the documents obtained by The Nairobian, the package containing Harambee Stars kit was sent to Kenya through FEDEX – the global courier service – on September 3, yet the team was meant to play against Namibia three days later.

In a communication to coach Amrouche, the French-based firm wrote asking the Algerian tactician to help speed up the process of clearance.

“It will be inspected at customs… It would certainly be advisable for you to coordinate with the local authorities at the highest level so they can facilitate a speedy process and safety of the package,” an email  by Jacques-Alexandre Audry of the French Duarig sportswear company said.

Amrouche’s efforts bore fruits to save the Stars and the nation the embarrassment.

As the Stars coach struggled to make frantic calls to get the team prepared, the consignment of playing kits and replica jerseys lay in a 40ft container from Spanish sportswear company New Millenium Sports at the Mombasa port.

When contacted, FKF president Sam Nyamweya confirmed that the Stars had no jerseys in time because of “customs issues” at the port.

“The consignment held in Mombasa is not in our name and has not reached us because we are not responsible. Kelme, who are our sponsors, sent the uniforms to their agents in Kenya, not FKF and those agents cannot get duty exemptions because the government does not give foreign bodies duty exemptions. So, as far as we are concerned, we don’t know,” added Nyamweya.

Apparently, the national team was cash-strapped as the government had not released funds in time to even pay for the foreign players’ plane tickets.

A senior player who spoke to The Nairobian complained for being subjected to cash constraints.

Amrouche seemed to downplay the wrangles over the team’s management choosing to instead focus on building the team.

He said his objective for now is how to qualify for the next African Cup of Nations.

“The players should know that they only have Kenya as their country. Without the national team, you are nothing. If we could have all the support needed then Harambee Stars can go places and we should have sponsors coming on board to cater for all match preparations,” he said.

Nyamweya admitted that the foreign-based players had paid for their return flight tickets but insisted that they had all been refunded.

“We had not received money from the government to purchase the tickets and requested them to pay for themselves but we have since refunded them,” said Nyamweya adding it was not a strange occurrence as it has happened.

However, Sammy Sholei faulted the football president for what he termed as a lacklustre approach to football matters in the country.

Sholei wondered why a match that was scheduled by Confederation of African Football (CAF) over four months ago would still cause logistical problems for the national team that is sponsored by East African Breweries to the tune of millions.

“The replica jerseys held at the port are 17,000 pieces which would fetch the federation over Sh17 million if they were to be sold at Sh1,000 a piece,” he said.

 

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