Harambee Stars AFCON Preparations On Course Despite Outstanding Issues

By Our Correspondent

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) says Harambee Stars’ preparations for their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying assignments remain on course despite outstanding payment and work permit issues affecting the national team camp.

The federation said it was engaging players, the technical team and the Ministry of Sports as it works to resolve the outstanding matters, including payments related to previous assignments and national team preparations.

“FKF remains focused on supporting Harambee Stars as the team prepares for its upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying assignments,” the federation said.

In a statement this evening, FKF acknowledged concerns surrounding the ongoing Harambee Stars camp, particularly outstanding payments and the work permit status of head coach c and some members of his technical team.

On payments, FKF said the Ministry of Sports had confirmed that an outstanding amount relating to a previous Harambee Stars assignment had been cleared and was expected to reflect by September 24.

However, other payments linked to national team preparations and allowances remain at different stages of processing, with the federation saying it is in regular communication with the Ministry and other relevant offices.

“The Ministry has confirmed that an outstanding payment relating to a previous Harambee Stars assignment has been cleared and is expected to reflect by tomorrow,” FKF said.

The federation said it appreciated the Ministry’s engagement in resolving the outstanding payments and would continue working with the government to ensure the national team’s needs are addressed.

Questions have also been raised over the work permit status of McCarthy and some members of his technical bench. FKF confirmed that the required documentation was still being processed in consultation with relevant government agencies.

According to the federation, the process remains ongoing and it is following up with the relevant offices to have the documentation concluded.

FKF also said McCarthy and members of his technical bench have travelled in and out of Kenya with Harambee Stars during international assignments in the course of their work with the national team.

It described the work permit process as an administrative matter being handled by the relevant authorities, while noting that the technical team’s responsibilities extend beyond national team camps.

Those duties include monitoring domestic football and players across the country, an important part of identifying and assessing players who could be considered for national team assignments. The latter description of the purpose of monitoring is contextual; FKF’s statement specifically says the technical team monitors the domestic game and players across the country.

“The work permit process is an administrative matter being handled with the relevant authorities,” FKF said.

Despite the unresolved issues, FKF maintained that preparations for the continental qualifiers were continuing, saying it remained in discussions with the players, technical staff and the Sports Ministry.

The federation said it would continue working with the stakeholders to ensure the national team’s preparations remain on course as the outstanding matters are addressed.