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Harambee Stars players camping allowances slashed


Harambee Stars players have had their camping allowances slashed by almost half over the past six months, Nairobi News understands.

According to a number of well placed sources in the team, the players are now taking home between Sh 750 and Sh 1,000 for each night spent in camp ahead of an international game.

This amount is far less than the approximated Sh 3,000 the players have been earning on a daily basis for the past five years, and specifically under former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya’s regime.

The adjustment of allowances is said to have taken effect after the Government took over the responsibility of paying the players.

“The explanation we received (from the football bosses) is that the new rates are from Government. That amount is what is paid to all civil servants while on public duty. However, we have been promised the situation will improve in the event the federation manages to attract sponsors,” a senior Stars player told Nairobi News.

WINNING BONUSES

Also, and unlike several other national teams including Ghana’s Black Stars who pocked Sh1 million for each win in a competitive game, Harambee Stars players are at the moment still not entitled to earn match winning bonuses.

Allowances aside, a majority of Stars players are impressed and motivated by the improved working conditions offered by the new FKF management led by Nick Mwendwa, compared to the previous administrations.

Finland based midfielder Amos Ekhalie is the latest player to praise the federation over this development.

“Preparations for the match (against Congo) were superb. Everything was planned professionally and the players in camp looked ambitious, they are young with everyone motivated to do well which is promising for our country,” Ekhalie told Kenyan website soka.co.ke.

Stars youthful coach Stanley Okumbi is currently enjoying an unbeaten run stretching to six matches, including 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in an international friendly last week.