Harambee Stars players are discovering that the bright lights off the pitch can be as blinding as the stadium floodlights. Phones ring nonstop, strangers show up with stories, and the millions in bonuses from President William Ruto have turned young footballers into instant celebrities.
For the players who have propelled Kenya to the quarter-finals of the continental championship, life off the pitch has become almost as intense as the game itself.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Sunday night, 19-year-old Mansur Suleman said sudden fame has brought both opportunity and caution. “I get a lot of calls, but I stick to my principles. My closest friends and family are the people I focus on, the ones who have been with me through the struggle,” he said.
Suleman added that the attention can be overwhelming. “Fame brings all types of people, fake and real. If a new number calls me, I cannot pick up. Where were you when I was nobody? Now everyone wants a story.”
The young star, a product of St. Anthony in Kitale and Rainbow FC before joining KCB, earned his first national call-up in March after being spotted by coach Benny McCarthy.
Suleman credited the confidence from McCarthy and his teammates for pushing him to perform at the highest level.
Attacker Boniface Muchiri, a soldier in the Kenya Defence Forces who also plays for Ulinzi FC, described the pride of wearing the national jersey while serving his country. “Double feeling when I score and meet the President, because I serve my country both as a soldier and a player,” he said.
The players revealed that the presidential bonus has transformed how they approach every match, noting that local league games offer very small financial rewards.
“In local clubs, bonuses are Ksh10,000. But Ksh1 million in 90 minutes makes you give everything on the pitch,” Muchiri said.
They also praised improved training facilities, a passionate fan base, and a winning mentality, describing their coach as a father, brother, and teammate all rolled into one.
Suleman and Muchiri said their ultimate dream is to play abroad, with exposure under McCarthy and experiences with major clubs providing the platform they need to achieve it.
Winger Ben Stanley Omondi acknowledged the pressure, especially during the late stages of the group qualifiers when it became clear that failing to beat Zambia could have sent them to play away matches in Tanzania. “But our goal is to win so the cup stays at home. That would be our biggest happiness,” he said.
For the Harambee Stars, the millions are more than just money: they are motivation, recognition, and a chance to inspire the next generation of Kenyan footballers.
The players secured a quarter-final tie on home soil after a narrow victory against Zambia in their final Group A game at the African Nations Championship on Sunday evening.
Ryan Ogam scored the only goal of the match with 15 minutes to play, ensuring Kenya finished top of a grueling group that also included Morocco, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya will now face Madagascar in the quarter-finals, with the match scheduled to be played in Kenya.
