State releases Stars fund, FKF launches AFCON promotion

CS Sports Amina Mohamed (left) and fan during CAF Confed Cup-quarter final first leg match between Gor and Berkane at Kasarani stadium. April 7, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Harambee Stars players will be smiling all the way to the bank with each player pocketing a minimum of Sh750,000 in allowances during 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Cairo.

Each of the players in the final 23-man squad is entitled to Sh500,000 with an extra Sh250,000 in camp allowances.

While the three players dropped from the 26-man team set to train in France between May 27 and June 16 before the tournament kicks off will get back home with Sh250,000 each.

The allowances will be withdrawn from the Sh219 million budgetary allocation which was disbursed yesterday into Football Kenya Federation’s account for the Afcon campaign by the Ministry of Sports. The Ministry had earlier released Sh25m to cater for Stars’ final Group F qualifier match away to Ghana.

To motivate the team as Kenya makes a return to the continental showpiece after a 15-year hiatus, the federation has set aside Sh 250,000 bonuses for a win or a draw for each player in Cairo.

This was revealed yesterday by FKF President Nick Mwendwa during the launch of the Shinda Na Stars promotion in Nairobi.

The event was attended by national team’s official betting partner Betin Kenya Marketing Manager Diana Gachugi and travelling agency Splash World Limited CEO Shukri Aden Mohammed.

“Finally, the Ministry has sent us the money, I just want to be clear that we shall receive the money today (Monday). Once the money totalling to Sh219 million reflects on our account, we will pay the players the government promise.

“We’ve agreed on the modalities with the players, meaning they will share Sh39m with each one receiving the money depending on the number of matches he played,” said Mwendwa.

“We shall then go ahead to clear all debts that we accumulated in the course of the campaign.

“We are going to focus on making sure that everything is paid for and the players are prepared for the tournament. We have set aside players’ allowances, what we are looking for now is bonuses and that’s why we’ve launched the Shinda Na Stars promotion.”

The promotion will run from April 8 to June 10.

Betin will conduct a raffle that will see six fans win a fully paid trip to Egypt with a million shillings and other prizes also up for grabs.

On the other hand, Splash World Limited will provide a travel package to all fans planning to attend Kenya’s preliminary round matches at a cost of Sh 350,000 per person.

Meanwhile, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has assured national team Harambee Stars of government support.

“Since we’ve the issues of money and other resources behind us we expect the team to do well in Egypt. I will personally travel to Paris and Egypt to support the team in the friendly matches and the tournament,” Mohammed said on Sunday at Kasarani.

“It is not about the ministry and the federation but Kenyans, we are only facilitating the players.”

Shinda Na Stars Promotion Prizes

-Six fans win a fully paid trip to Egypt

-Grand Prize of Ksh 1million

- Daily consolation prizes of Ksh 5000

-Weekly consolation prizes of Ksh 100,000

-Monthly Consolation prizes of Ksh 200,000

*Send an SMS with the word “STARS” to 29881

Splash World Limited offer

- Book a Return Ticket (Nairobi – Cairo – Nairobi) In Economy class

- Hotel accommodation in for 6 Nights 7 Days

- Two Meals per day during the stay in Cairo

- Ground Transportation

- Visa to Egypt

- Travel Insurance for all the participants

- Three match tickets for the three Harambee Stars group matches

- Organized local tours in Egypt during Harambee Stars rest days

- Total cost of package is Sh 350,000

*AFCON draws are set for April 12 in Cairo, Egypt