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Harambee Stars players detained in hotel over unpaid bills


The national football team was on Wednesday night briefly detained at their hotel in Addis Ababa

The management of Churchill hotel insisted that the Harambee Stars contingent could only exchange their freedom by offsetting additional expenses accrued by the team.

The team is in Ethiopia for the annual Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup. They were bundled out from the regional competition in the quarter final following a dramatic 5-3 penalty loss to Rwanda on Tuesday.

BLOATED CONTINGENT

On Wednesday night, it emerged the Kenyan contingent of 31 had exceeded  the required number of 25 who are to be paid for by the tournament’s organisers.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was therefore under obligation to pay for the expenses incurred by the six extra people.

FKF, however, failed to pay the amount and a standoff ensured well into the night on Wednesday, minutes before the Kenyan contingent was to check out of the facility and head to the Bole Airport to return home.

In the end, Harambee Stars’ team manager Willis Waliaula remained behind as collateral until the bills are paid. His passport was also confiscated by the hotel’s management.

SH 3.5 MILLION

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, who had travelled to Addis Ababa but returned early Wednesday, had said the government had released Sh3.5 million to the federation. The money was meant to pay for preparations for the tournament as well as players’ allowances.

Meanwhile, Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye,  says he is “powerless” to help at this point.

He told Nairobi News: “Our budget is stretched. All the other 11 teams came with 25 people. The Kenyans decided to come with an additional six. That is their personal arrangement with the hotel.”

This development wraps up what has been a trip to forget for Harambee Stars in Ethiopia.

First, the disgruntled players considered boycotting some matches at the competition over a pay dispute.

SNEAK OUT

Then, a group of players were accused of sneaking out of camp and consuming alcohol hours after that embarrassing defeat to Zanzibar in the group stages.

This forced Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario to fly there in after bid to address the unrest within the team. Wario however didn’t keep his word, after reportedly disappearing without ensuring the players had been paid their full allowances.