Kenya's top leaders of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) and Kenyan Premier League (KPL) have reached a new partnership agreement to save and support the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns by the national team, Harambee Stars.
Officials from both parties agreed to form a new Harambee Stars Management Board to oversee the organizational, technical and financial management for the Harambee Stars 2010 campaigns of six matches this year.
The officials also agreed to convene a meeting of all head coaches of Premier League clubs on Monday who will then select the national team head coach who will then name his technical bench.
They will also select an advisory group of five top coaches to advise and assist the national coach.
The officials said in a statement received here Friday that the new board will also explore the setting up of a special marketing board of prominent corporate leaders to spearhead a national fundraising campaign.
Under the government's new cost-sharing approach, they will also request the government to consider matching in funds or contributions-in-kind what is raised from companies and the public.
A detailed fundraising target of 491,800 U.S. dollars was also approved, including a new performance bonus of 327 dollars for any fielded player, 163.5 dollars for other players and double for the officials, 654 dollars for every victory in the 2010 campaigns.
The KPL agreed to urgently advance the funds needed for the national team to assemble and start training next week and for bringing home key players who are playing in other leagues abroad.
KPL chairman Bob Munro emphasized that "our top clubs met last Saturday and unanimously agreed it would be a devastating blow for our best players, for the hopes of millions of fans and for the international sporting reputation of our country if Harambee Stars did not take the field next month.
"Although the KPL funds are really needed to help our clubs survive, we decided that our national team must take priority and agreed to advance the funds needed to get the team started," he said.
KFF National chairman Mohamed Hatimy thanked "the KPL clubs for showing such true patriotism in putting the best interests of our country ahead of everything else".
He noted that "our coaches and players have a tough task ahead but with the new approach, higher allowances and performance bonuses I am confident they will try their best".
He also made "an appeal to all KFF Branches, clubs and all other patriotic Kenyans for their understanding and support for the national team. "
"We hope the government and other private companies will now join us to give our national team a fair and fighting chance to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola," he said.
Source:Xinhua
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