A Kenyan, Matthias Kavuttih, has started an online campaign compelling the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to facilitate the name change for the National Men’s Team, currently known as Harambee Stars.Through the popular platform Change.org, Kavuttih is collecting signatures to enforce a name change that will bring out our fighting spirit.He believes that ‘Harambee Stars’, a term coined almost 50 years ago does not represent the current situation and was only befitting then, outlining the need to have a name that will not be bypassed by time.Respected tactician Beldine Odemba lauds Bottom Up U19 TournamentThe nickname ‘Harambee Stars’ has been in use since December 16, 1976, when the then chairman of the Kenya Football Federation, Kenneth Matiba issued a decree on the same effect via a press release, as per the accounts of veteran sports journalist Roy Gachuhi.##NAJAVA_MECA_6890959##”The world over national football team names capture the essence of the nation and pride in those donning the colors of their countries and Kenya is no exception. The ‘Lions of Teranga’, ‘Carthage Eagles’, ‘The Three Lions’, ‘La Furia Roja’ (The Red Fury), are just but a few examples where the name of the national team not only instills confidence in the players but sends a psychological message to opponents even before an encounter, and to rally the fans behind the team – with pride, belief and resilience in the face of a loss. Our “Harambee Stars” is supposed to mean “Stars that Work Together”. A name that was coined in [1960] to reflect the time back then. I submit that we need a name that captures our ‘never say never spirit’ and one that will last the test of time,” he offered in the petition.Harambee Star in 2021: From having three at the helm to ending the year without a coachFor the new nickname, Kavuttih is proposing one that will encompass our stance in the face of adversity and has given up to four examples.Just like businesses rebrand to align with their mission and future prospects, he believes that the national team can also follow in the same footsteps to a new beginning.”What if we used a more outstanding name that portrays our stance in the face of adversity? We want to be sending our football team out there to FIGHT, not to beg for help. So how about ‘Tsavo Simbas’, ‘Mara Lions’, ‘Amboseli Cheetahs’, ‘Shujaa Morans’ etc. Businesses, corporations NGO etc rebrand over time to reflect their future outlook, or to align to new realities on the ground. Our national football team can and should also rebrand as the first step in the long journey ahead in growing our football, from grassroots to national levels. This petition calls on the CS Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to have a name change for the national football team. A name that will eschew pride and capture our collective spirit as Kenyans,” he added.
