Three months after leading Kenya Under 15 boys and girls in the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the CAF African Football Schools Championship at Moi International Stadium in Nairobi, the coaches that were in charge of the squads are yet to receive their allowances. The tournament brought together six nations Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Somalia, and the host Kenya all battling for a ticket to the continental stage. Uganda won the title in both categories and will represent the region in the games set for April.##NAJAVA_MECA_7967567##The Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) had mouth-watering prize money for podium finishers with the winners pocketing USD 100000 (Ksh 13,331,000 as per the current conversion rate), runners-up bagged USD 75000 (slightly over Ksh 10 million) and the bronze medalist walked home USD 50000 richer. Despite a spirited fight, the Kenya girls’ team finished second behind Uganda. Our sources indicate the squad has never got any penny from the reward money with more reliable personnel indicating that the minors are not entitled to allowances, only travel logistics sorted by relevant bodies.However, the big question lingers – why are the coaches who handled the teenagers during the two-week stay in the camp yet to receive their remunerations despite numerous attempts? Talanta Hela U19 squads set for prestigious tournaments in SpainHowever, with the players scenario well explained, the coaches that handled them during the two week stay in the camp have appealed to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to release their unpaid allowances accumulated during the aforementioned period.A coach that spoke to Mozzart Sport on the conditions of anonymity said they were only ambushed travelling logistics with the federation promising to pay the remaining amount before the end of December 2023.”It is not good for them (FKF) not to keep their word because we gave our best and now paying us is becoming an issue,” the source confided.Ayunga, Ng’ang’a join Harambee Stars camp”We only got travelling money back home like the players, we have families that knew we went out for duties and expected something in return,” the source added.FKF through Head of Technical Operations Mike Kamure in a leaked WhatsApp messages seen by Mozzart Sport acknowledged that indeed the coaches have not been paid their bonuses but added the government had not released the money.”Good evening gentlemen. I sympathise with you on the current situation on the issue of allowances. The government had promised to pay but unfortunately they are yet to act on it,” Kamure message to the tactician reads in part, “It’s not a unique situation because even the Harambee Stars technical bench and some players have not been paid their due allowances for the Gabon and Seychelles assignments.”Kamure’s message adds that, “On some players planning funny things, this again we have experienced with Harambee Stars players when they went to social media to try and force issues. This did not work. But if they so feel, I guess there’s little we can do to prevent it. It’s not the federation’s fault. That’s the current status.”
