Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday, October 22 gifted the Kenya U-20 national team a hefty cash prize for their historic qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Murkomen hosted the entire U-20 team in his office where he congratulated them for their historic feat, while also keeping his cash promise by awarding them Ksh 1.8 million.
According to the CS, the cash reward was part of his docket's reward and recognition agenda. " I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the players, coach, FKF, technical staff, and fans for this outstanding achievement," he said in a statement.
The CS attributed the team's success to the financial backing they have received from the government - a factor that has helped them solely focus on their performance on the football pitch.
"Unlike in the past, national teams are now fully supported financially for international competitions, ensuring they focus solely on performance without logistical concerns," Murkomen observed, adding that preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations would begin immediately.
Qualification for AFCON was confirmed on October 18 after the U-20 team hammered Burundi 4-0 in the semi-finals of the CECAFA Qualifiers.
That victory ensured Kenya qualified for the final, where they met Tanzania on Sunday, October 20. The Ngorongoro Boys ended up winning 2-1, but Kenya's defeat meant very little since the two finalists had already qualified for AFCON.
Notably, defeat to Tanzania was Kenya's first throughout the entire tournament - a stat which underlines just how good the younger Harambee Stars team has been this year.
The bigger picture: Murkomen, who has been determined to enhance the sporting culture in the country since taking up his role as CS, also announced on Tuesday that there are plans to start identifying young talent in sports using technology.
According to the CS, the government plans to have a system in place where young players' data is collected from various academies, which will be used to pitch the players to international academies. The government is also in the process of rolling out 30 sports academies across the country.
Murkomen, like many other Kenyans, will now hope the U-20 team's success can be replicated by the national team, which is on the verge of failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
On Monday, October 14, Kenya endured another tough outing against Cameroon, losing 1-0 at Uganda's Mandela Stadium in Namboole. This defeat left Kenya on the verge of elimination after a run of one win, a draw and two defeats in their opening four qualifier games.
