Bunge FC members have come together to personally donate Ksh1 million to the Harambee Stars squad, which is currently preparing for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Led by Rarieda MP and Bunge FC captain Otiende Amollo, the lawmakers visited the Harambee Stars camp on Thursday, July 31, and presented the token as a gesture of solidarity and encouragement.
While addressing the press shortly after the visit, Amollo justified the donation and acknowledged the financial challenges many local players face.
“In Kenya, we have players who play for Harambe Stars but who also play for other teams abroad. For them, they are a little more fortunate financially, because you'd say they've gotten their break.
“But many of these young boys are yet to get that break, so they also have all sorts of needs. We nevertheless want to be sure that if there's any support we can give from our pockets, not from parliament as an institution, but from our pockets, that we are able to give it. So the members gathered, and we are going to give the players a token amount of one million Kenya shillings, just to encourage them. And if we are able to, we'll keep supporting them as time goes," he said.
Read More
Amollo further revealed that discussions are ongoing with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the team is comprehensively supported during the tournament.
"While we are in consultation with the federation, with the sports ministry, to ensure that all the support they need is given, including support from the sports ministry, and today we were having a conversation with the principal secretary, he tells us that everything is in place," he added.
In addition to the donation, the MPs also committed to being active supporters of the team, pledging to attend home games and even travel for international fixtures where possible.
"We have come to motivate the players, to assure them that we as members of parliament will attend at least all their games that are played in Kenya and endeavour to attend those that are played beyond, because as you know, supporters are usually the 12th person in football,” Amollo further said.
Harambee Stars will be facing DR Congo's Les Léopards on Sunday, August 3, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
After facing DR Congo, Harambee Stars will on Thursday, August 7, battle it out with Angola at 7:00 PM at Kasarani.
Kenya returns to the same venue on Sunday, August 10, to take on Morocco at 3:00 PM.
The group stage wraps up on Sunday, August 17, with Kenya playing Zambia at 3:00 PM at Kasarani.
All matches involving Kenya will be hosted in Nairobi, alternating between the Moi International Sports Centre and Nyayo National Stadium.
Fans can purchase the tickets on Mookh.
