NAIROBI, Kenya, November 1- Prime Minister, Raila Odinga has called on the new football administration to uplift the country’s game with reversing the ill fortunes of national team Harambee Stars top priority.
In his message the premier also hailed Saturday’s unified elections that ushered the new office led by Sam Nyamweya as a free and fair exercise.
“For some time now, soccer standards in our country have progressively dwindled and today, the game has virtually collapsed. Today, the failure by our national soccer team Stars to qualify for international assignments is accepted as a matter of fate,” Raila stated.
“We begin each continental and international soccer season with hope against hope that we will qualify. We accept every failure with only short lived anger followed by a quick acceptance that our team was not good enough,” he added.
While congratulating the new team for their election victory, Raila challenged the new office holders to chart the growth of local football into a fully fledged industry.
“The fall of this multi-billion shilling game that has the potential to provide livelihood to thousands of our talented youth and provide worthy entertainment to millions of our citizens, has left a trail of despair and anger across the country.
“All this has been a result of mismanagement of the beautiful game by officials who were largely unaccountable in their activities.”
The premier pledged his support for the administration while pointing out the expectations on them to deliver was enormous.
“We begin this week with a new team of freely and fairly elected officials to run our football. I take this opportunity to congratulate Nyamweya on his election to manage soccer affairs in the country.
“It is my hope and belief that Mr Nyamweya and his team have the will and the wish to uplift soccer in our country and that they are equal to the task.”
He concluded, “I appeal to the new team to do all within its power to put our football back onto the right course. As lover of the game, and for the sake of the pride of our nation and the future of our youth, I assure Mr Nyamweya and his team my full and dedicated support.”
