AMROUCHE THE GREAT: Stars’ coach voted second to none during Cecafa Challenge Cup

By GILBERT WANDERA

  National team Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche was voted the best coach during the just concluded GOtv  Senior Challenge Cup hosted in Kenya.

This was revealed by Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, who revealed their technical committee ruled that the Algerian was the best.

“Harambee Stars emerged the best by winning overall trophy but our technical committee also voted Adel Amrouche as the best coach. He took a team that was viewed as underdogs into the final and won the trophy comprehensively,” said Musonye.

Musonye was speaking when he presented the national team with a cash prize of Sh2.8 million for winning the regional tournament.

He thanked the country for agreeing to host the two-week event despite hiccups they underwent and insisted the event lived up to their expectation.

“We thank Kenya for hosting a successful tournament. We appreciate too all the sponsors and especially GOtv and SuperSport for their support.

“The event went on smoothly despite a few challenges but was overall successful. I also want to congratulate Kenya for returning the trophy back to the country after a long time,” he added.

He also revealed the captains of Zambia and Sudan will come to Nairobi next week to collect their respective prize monies.

Zambia finished third earning Sh850,000 while Sudan were runners-up and stand to pocket Sh1.6 million prize money.

Speaking during the ceremony, FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya said the whole amount will be shared between the players for a job well done.

only for players

“We have decided as a federation that the whole amount goes to the players to share among themselves. We do not want even a single cent from it,” he said.

FKF vice chairman Robert Asembo praised the team for ending a long wait of winning the trophy.

He also passed his gratitude to those who supported the team in their endeavours and pointed out that this success will open ways for better things.

“It is a moment of pride for the whole country and we need to build on this for better performance in future. We want to thank all our supporters for making it a reality,” said Asembo.

Multichoice East Africa  Regional Director Steve  Isaboke said his company will continue to invest more in promotion of football in the country.

He added that a special match between the Harambee Stars and the Under-20 side will be held next year in Machakos as part of their plans to showcase Kenyan football.

During the function GOtv donated decoders to each member of the senior team and the national Under-20 side, which finished runners-up in the just concluded Cosafa Under-20 tournament in Lesotho.  

––gwandera@standardmedia.co.ke