Triumphant Harambee Stars reap big cash reward
Harambee Stars were on Sunday evening basking in the glory of lifting the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup after a four-year hiatus that came with a huge financial windfall for the players.
The Kenyan team, which beat surprise finalists Zanzibar in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Machakos County, walked away with a prize money of $30,000 (Sh3 million).
And as the players celebrated victory on the pitch, more cash rewards started coming through from Deputy President William Ruto, Machakos governor Alfred Mutua and his Nairobi counterpart Mike Sonko.
Prior to the match, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa has announced that upto sh6 million would be shared among the players and technical bench if the home team bagged its seventh regional title.
MATASI’S HEROICS
Mr Ruto, Dr Mutua, Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario and Mwendwa all witnessed the pulsating encounter and later awarded trophies and medals to the finalists.
But this VIP guests had to endure a roller-coaster of emotions as the Indian Ocean island side came from behind twice to level the scores 1-1 and then 2-2, forcing the game into penalties.
In the end it, all boiled down to the heroics of goalkeeper Patrick Matasi for Kenya to lift the trophy. Matasi palmed away three spot kicks to earn the Stars a 3-2 victory in the shootout.
Ahead of last evening’s final, Stars fans flooded social media with goodwill and congratulatory messages particularly aimed at the hosts.