FKF Requires KSh25 Million For Back To Back Ethiopia Qualifiers

NAIROBI, Kenya- The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) needs KSh25 million to comfortably honour national team, Harambee Stars, two-legged 2019 AFCON qualifying fixtures against Ethiopia next week.

Kenya is due to play the Walywa Antelopes in a Group F contest away in Bahir Dar on Wednesday (October 10) before playing hosts at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani four days later.

The pool is tough as all the four teams, including Sierra Leone and Ghana, have accumulated three points each after winning and losing a game a-piece.

“We had a great plan to take the team to Ethiopia on Monday and jet back to the country as soon as possible to prepare for the return leg, but we are short of funds.

“We presented a budget of KSh 25million to the Sports Ministry on August 18 for this game and so far we have only received KSh7.5 million.

“This amount is not enough as it will only cater for flights and accommodation, we are not sure where we will get money to pay our players and technical bench allowances, we need at least KSh15 million per game,” FKF President, Nick Mwendwa, underlined on Friday.

According to the Government, those called up to the national team are viable for a KSh 5000 stipend on an away assignment per day and KSh 750 while playing at home. The latter has since been increased to KSh 2000 by the federation.

Mwendwa said Harambee Stars game against Ghana at Kasarani on September 8 and a friendly match against Malawi Flames at the venue three days later punched a KSh 17 million hole in the federation coffers.

“We applied for KSh19 million ahead of our clash with Ghana, we were given KSh 4million. Now we owe our suppliers KSh 17 million after the competitions.

“But I’m glad that player and technical bench allowances for the two meets have been sorted out,” he said.

Residential training

Mwendwa, who revealed Kenya Revenue Authority has frozen the federation accounts, said their empty pockets is what has hampered Harambee Stars preparations ahead of the Ethiopia tests.

 “We started our camp at Utalii Training College on Thursday, so far only 11 players out of the 21 who were called up have reported.

“They are expected to engage in two training sessions today,” Mwendwa underscored.

The federation boss said head coach, Sebastian Migne, is only doing for the country a favor at the residential training, as the French tactician has not been paid his dues for three months.

“The coach is motivated to make the team successful, but his salary is the problem. He has given us a notice to pay all his arrears by October 15.

“He has only been paid for two months. He is yet to be given July, August and September salaries.

“We are hopeful this will be sorted out when we return from Ethiopia after getting an assurance from the Ministry,” Mwendwa highlighted.

At the same time, Kenya has enrolled for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifiers with the first game being hosted in Nairobi against Mauritius on November 12.

“We have also lodged an appeal against Equatorial Guinea to the Confederation of African Football in the Women’s African Nations qualifiers.

“We want the West Africans to be disqualified and their slot granted to Harambee Starlets following some qualification malpractices which they participated in,” Mwendwa uttered.

Full Squad against Ethiopia

Goalkeepers

Patrick Matasi (Tusker, Kenya), Farouk Shikalo ( Bandari, Kenya)

Defenders

Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers, Kenya), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg FC, South Africa), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Real Monarchs, USA)

Midfielders

Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka, Kenya), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Ismael Gonzales (Las Palmas, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan)

Forwards

Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka, Kenya), Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden)

Reserve Players

Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya) Sosthenes Idah (Thika United, Kenya), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United, Kenya), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya)