Hits and misses as football fever gets to finale

Madagascar, nicknamed “Barea”, are eyeing their first Chan title while Morocco’s “Atlas Lions” seek to cement their dominance by clinching a record third title, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2020.

Hosts Kenya will only be spectators after Harambee Stars were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Kenya bowed out in a heartbreaking fashion, losing 4-3 on post-match penalties to Madagascar after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time at Kasarani on Friday last week.

The final is expected to draw dignitaries, including President William Ruto and Patrice Motsepe, the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

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Despite Harambee Stars not being one the teams fighting for the crown, which comes with Sh452.7 million prize money from CAF, hosting the tournament’s final is historic for Kenya.

It is the first time in 38 years that the country has staged a major continental football showpiece.

The last time Kenya hosted a competition of this magnitude was during the Fourth All Africa Games (African Games) in 1987, with Harambee Stars losing 1-0 to Egypt in the final at a packed Kasarani.

Kenya was awarded and later stripped of the rights to host the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and 2018 CHAN due to inadequate preparations.

Today’s CHAN final, which will be preceded by a flurry of entertainment activities, marks the culmination of a process that began mid-last year, bringing together the concerted efforts of the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and CAF.

For top government officials, the conclusion is an achievement, given earlier fears that political differences could cloud the tournament.

Coming on the backdrop of Gen-Z-led protests calling for better governance, the Local Organising Committee chaired by veteran football administrator Nicholas Musonye, had listed the demonstrations among the challenges to anticipate.

“It is noted that the ... Gen-Z protests could ... affect the safe delivery of the competition,” the committee members told the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on July 24.

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To mitigate risks and avoid political rhetoric at the stadiums, the organising committee implemented CAF’s ban on offensive banners, including flags, posters and placards targeting political, race, gender, religion, nationality or personal identity.

Security was heightened around the stadiums, with roads closed several hours to kick-offs while fans were screened at least a kilometre away.

Come match days and the nation rallied behind Harambee Stars, re-awakening Kenya’s love for football and its national team, diffusing the political tension gripping the country.

As tens of thousands of fans donning Harambee Stars colours – some with painted faces – thronged Kasarani to cheer the boys, millions more followed the action from their living rooms, entertainment joints and fan zones set up across the country.

The unity witnessed in the stadium was unlike anything seen in recent years.

Fans captured the moment in their unique style of support, which included the famous Mexican wave, Poznan dance, glittering sea of mobile phone torches during late evening matches and chants of “One Million” and “Two point five”.

The Mexican wave is a style of cheering in which fans on the terrace stand up in sequence while lifting their arms. The Poznan dance involves supporters turning their backs to the pitch, linking their arms and jumping up together.

The chants of “One million” and “Two-point-five” were in reference to the cash rewards President Ruto promised every Harambee Stars squad member for wins in the tournament – a motivation many have attributed to the team’s good performance.

For every win, the President promised each member of the squad Sh1 million.

Victory over Zambia in their last Group “A” match earned every squad member Sh2.5 million.

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Other politicians rallied behind the team, too, with many attending the matches.

Wiper Party leader and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka bought tickets for fans while former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made it a practice to congratulate the team on social media after every match.

Even so, government operatives were accused of hoarding tickets as they were declared “sold out” soon after the online portal they were being purchased from opened.

Claims that the move was aimed at neutralising anti-government chants during the matches gained traction.

Videos of politicians affiliated with the government flashing hard-copy tickets went viral.

During NTV’s morning show “Fixing The Nation”, Mr Musonye dismissed the allegation.

“There is no such thing as hoarding tickets or giving tickets to some people,” he said.

“The portal was opened for all. It was done by CAF, not us.”

President Ruto said on Thursday that the unity shown by Kenyans propelled the team to the quarter-final. He urged Kenyans to remain unified.

“We now know and deeply appreciate the power of unity when we rally behind our sportsmen and women. The passion, pride and motivation we gave Harambee Stars during this competition demonstrated what is possible when a nation stands together,” Dr Ruto said as he hosted the team for a luncheon at State House, Nairobi.

“This is the spirit we must carry into every arena of national life – in our schools, workplaces, counties and across our republic – to propel Kenya towards greatness.”

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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy acknowledged the fans’ support.

“You guys made us feel we were untouchable every time we entered the field,” the South African football legend said at the luncheon.

“Just the support, filling the stadium and pushing the team, we could not have achieved anything without the fans and everybody that was behind us.”

So passionate were Kenyans to watch Harambee Stars play that ahead of the clash with Morocco, scores forced their way into the stadium.

The security breach saw CAF impose a Sh6.4 million fine on the Football Kenya Federation.

The continental football governing body also reduced fan attendance at Kasarani to 27,000 before reviewing the number to 36,000.

Reflecting on Kenya’s success in staging the tournament, President Ruto said the government would continue investing in sports.

To host the eighth edition of the biennial tourney, which is reserved for players featuring in their domestic leagues, the government spent more than Sh10 billion.

Kenya had to refurbish to global standards the venues earmarked for CHAN. They included Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium, which were designated as the match venues.

The training venues were Police Sacco Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Kasarani Annex “A” and “B” and Kenya Utalii College Sports Club.

The works included upgrading playing surfaces, installing floodlights and putting up a canopy at Kasarani.

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture on April 10, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said Kasarani was being upgraded at a cost of Sh6.7 billion while Nyayo Stadium would cost Sh1.1 billion.

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The government paid Sh1.6 billion to CAF as hosting rights fee while the organising committee presented a Sh1.4 billion budget for the tournament.

Mr Musonye complained to the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture on July 24 that his team lacked resources as the government had at that time released about 10 per cent of the needed amounts.

Firms offering security, medical, transport and hotel services are among the key beneficiaries.

With CAF prioritising the well-being of its staff and participating teams, all were accommodated at five-star hotels.

The Saturday Nation established that CAF catered for at least 40 members of every team’s accommodation and transport. Any additional personnel were taken care of by their federations.

During the group matches, Harambee Stars players were at Pullman Hotel where daily accommodation costs average Sh25,800 ($200).

Team buses were hired at an average of Sh100,000 per day for the 30 days.

The buses were often accompanied by smaller vehicles that cost Sh10, 000 to Sh22, 000 daily.

Media buses, on the other hand, cost Sh40, 000 per day over the same period. The Saturday Nation established that 40 ambulances were contracted for the tournament.

A contracted medical service provider said an invoice he raised for the two weeks he was engaged amounted to Sh500,000 to Sh800, 000. Interpreters were also hired daily.

Kenyans made something in volunteer work, vending and being hired as match stewards.

Ahead of Harambee Stars’ matches, a spot check by the Saturday Nation at jersey shops in the City Centre, Nairobi, and other towns across the country revealed a boom in business as Kenyans rushed to buy Harambee Stars colours.

During the tournament, a Harambee Start jersey retailed at Sh1, 500 to Sh1,800.

For an additional Sh50, fans could have their names or those of their favourite players printed on the back.

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