NAIROBI, Kenya, March 19 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has appealed to corporate organizations and well wishers to help raise Sh60 million to facilitate preparation of the national football team ahead of the 2010 World Cup.He told fellow countrymen to contribute towards the Harambee Stars Funds kitty especially now that the long standing infighting that dogged the promotion and the management of the sports has been ironed out.
Speaking on Thursday while launching a website for the funds kitty at his office, Raila said the government was determined to support the operations of the game to the highest possible level in the international circles.
The website www.harambeestars.com aims to woo goodwill and donations from football lovers as the country makes efforts to restore the glory of the sport whose activities was marred by rivalry and poor governance.
Odinga also urged the public to chip in with their contribution through sending Short Messages Services (SMS) to 3883 in both the Zain and Safaricom mobile providers.
He also announced that the government would foot outstanding dues the Football Kenya limited (FKL) owed the newly appointed German coach Antoine Hey to finalize contractual agreement.
“We are working on modalities to see that the Ministry of Youth Affairs Sports bridges the payment deficit to ensure that the coach takes charge of the team immediately “Odinga said.
He said the coach was expected to prepare the national team for the match with Tunisia later in the month and called on the need to periodically engage the Stars in build up marches with foreign teams.
During the brief ceremony attended by top football officials in the country more donations were received from corporate organization since the inaugural launch of the kitty on the fourth of the month.
Sameer Investment gave Sh1 million while Hass Petroleum Company donated Sh700,000 while sports ministry on the other hand chipped in with Sh5.382 million.