Leaders in Nairobi have praised the national football team Harambee Stars following the team’s historic win over World Cup semi finalists Morocco in Kenya’s third group stage match of the African Nations Championships CHAN 2024.
Kumi Bila Break movement chairman Edwin Kuria, who also runs a sports organisation, Africa Sportive Talang, which promotes sports in communities congratulated Harambee Stars for the win which propelled Kenya to the top of group A on seven points.
On winning against Morocco, the Kenyan team got bonuses of Ksh. 1 million each from President William Ruto who has today promised to award additional perks to the players with a promise to award each player with Ksh2.5 million if they win their last match against Zambia on Sunday.
“I want to congratulate our team Harambee Stars for the win against Morocco. Kenyan players showed resilience in the Kenyan spirit and this is indeed a great and proud moment to be a Kenyan sports enthusiast, ” Kuria said.
Kuria lauded President William Ruto after the Head of State promised more goodies for the national team which he said is a great motivation for the players.
“I thank President William Ruto for fulfilling his one million prize to Harambee Stars players and we encourage him to extend the same to other sports. By beating Morocco, the boys proved that the win against former CHAN champions DRC Congo and the draw against Angola was not by luck but sheer resilience, ” Kuria noted.
Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja thanked President Ruto for the motivation on the Harambee Stars players noting that the motivation offered by the President was a great step in empowering the team and a step in the right direction.
” I want to laud my boss President William Ruto for the good gesture that he has showed to our football team Harambee Stars by awarding them a million for every win. This is proof that if our youth are well motivated, they can transcend all boundaries. Now they will get 2.5 million for the match against Zambia and I want to call on all Kenyans to rally behind our national team,” Sakaja said.
Former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo hailed the Presidents good gesture in awarding Harambee Stars andcaled on the President to extend the gesture into other spors disciplines.
“Our team Harambee Stars has made us really proud. Two wins and one draw is verycommendable and it tells that indeed Kenya has immense talent. I thank President Ruto for motivation he has given to the team. It shows in the players zeal to win games even with a red card,” Ndolo said.
“l aso ask the goverment to support suport sportmen to have good leadership rules and not supporting those who don’t play for leadership roles. It is important that sports people from other sports disciplines are also equally motivated to make Kenya proud,” he added.
Ndolo noted that Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya is a competent minister. Heaping praise on Mvurya, the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission president said that the CS is a good man who has stepped up to the task of leading the sports industry.
“I see him (CS Mvurya) doing great things. He is a good man and he is leading the sports docket with dedication,” He said.
He lambasted Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed who he said should respect the people of Makadara claiming that the people of Makadara brought Hussein to the sports industry noting that he introduced Hussein to the current Makadara MP George Aladwa, Media and communications strategist Kenn Okaka and other Makadara leaders to help him when he was trying his hand at sports leadership.
“He (Hussein) should give back to the peope of Makadara whom he first used to enter the world of sports,” Ndolo said.
Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Sports Brian Mulama joined in the leaders congratulating Harambee Stars on their win noting that the national team has proved that we have talented players in Kenya and with proper motivation, Kenya can go far.
Media and Communications strategist Kenn Okaka noted; “As a football enthusiast, I want to thank President Ruto for the motivation to the team. This is a great gesture which will go a long way to help the local based players leverage on their potential to open up greater opportunities in their careers.
President William Ruto today promised the national team Harambee Stars players heftier payouts going forward, with the President promising to gift each player with Ksh2.5 million if they secure a victory against Zambia in their final group A game.
In addition, the President also promised to award each Harambee Stars player Ksh1 million and an affordable housing unit should they secure a victory in the quarter-final of the African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).
The gallant Harambee Stars stunned World Cup semi finalists Morocco as the Atlas Lions fell to a 42nd minute strike by Tusker FC midfielder Ryan Ogam to secure the historic win.