National footaball team Harambee Stars might have already qualified for the African Cup of Nations slated for 2019. Kenyans have been so happy with the team qualifications with the Country’s head of state voicing his admiration for the team even as he promised his administration’s full support to the team.
Harambee’s qualification should however not be seen as a bed of roses as this is the time that the team is needed to work even harder if it is to even have a chance of making it past the group stages of the tournament.
To help aid the team’s preparation Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has said that the National team will need an estimated Sh200 million in preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Stars qualified for the 24-team tournament after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed that Sierra Leone was disqualified from the qualifiers following an Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting in Accra, Ghana last week.
Kenya, who’ve planned to pitch camp in France in May, sits pretty atop of Group “F” on seven points, one ahead of second-placed Ghana, while Ethiopia is bottom with a point having forfeited their 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone in September.
“We’ve estimated about 2 million dollars (approximately Sh205 million), but this is subject to change after patching up all necessary details,” said Mwendwa.
“For us we need not relax because we’ve a final game against Ghana, we want to stay top of the group and to do so, we must get a positive result away,” he added.
Mwendwa has called on sponsors to come on board and support the national team after ending a 14-year wait to grace the continental showpiece.
“We will continue to knock because now results are coming, before, it was difficult,” he offered.
He further thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for his pledge to support the team.
President Kenyatta said the Government, through the Ministry of Sports, will continue supporting the national football team as it prepares for the continental tournament.
“We know you are capable of winning this tournament. I assure you of my support and the Government will facilitate and provide you with the necessary resources to ensure you are well prepared for the task ahead,” President Kenyatta assured.
Earlier, Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, through his Twitter account, congratulated the national team for the qualification.
“This championship has eluded us for the past 15 years, I thank our boys for putting up a spirited fight against all the teams in their pool to see them qualify to represent Kenya,” the CS wrote.
Sports Principal Secretary Amb. Kirimi Kaberia said Kenyan sportsmen and women are an important brand asset for the country and encouraged Harambee Stars to aim for success in the tournament.
He said with the many reforms initiated by the Government and the support from President Kenyatta, the sports sector has witnessed major improvements, which have built confidence among the Kenyan youth to explore their talents fully.
How best should the National team be prepared for the Continental task ahead?