Reprieve for federations as Sports Fund set to operationalise

Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has said the National Sports Fund will be fully operational by the end of November.

Echesa also insisted his Ministry had done everything possible to fund all national teams this year, further explaining he was processing the Sh83 million required by the men, women and men U23 national football teams for their respective continental assignments slated for next week.

"We have appointed a new director (for the Fund), the announcement will be done next week. If there are no other hitches, I expect us to roll out the operations of the board and national teams will be the biggest beneficiaries," said Echesa.

Harambee Stars are preparing to face Sierra Leone in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Nairobi next weekend.

Harambee Starlets meanwhile have a possible trip to Ghana to compete in the women's Africa Cup of Nations starting Tuesday while the U23 national team, nicknamed the Emerging Stars, will commence the Olympic Games qualifiers against Mauritius on November 16.

"I can assure you my ministry has done its best to fund all the national teams this year even though it has not been easy. No sports association or federation can claim they did not receive funds from us this year.

We paid (Harambee Stars coach Sebastian) Migne Sh6 million and we have lodged a request to treasury for the other teams," assured Echesa.

Established under the Sports Act, the Sports Fund seeks to raise funds through sports lottery and arts with the monies thereafter channelled towards funding national teams, developing infrastructure and recreation. This has not happened however, despite some Sh10 billion reported to have been collected.