FIFA World Cup: Kefofa To Ferry Fans For Harambee Stars Qualifiers In Malawi
Kefofa Chief Executive Officer, Shem Okottah (middle), President Francis Liboyi (second right) and women representative Anima Ferrari (second left) during their state of the football address at a Nairobi hotel on Monday May 27, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.
NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya is scheduled to host two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches away in Lilongwe, Malawi next month.
The country has been forced to stage the forthcoming clashes; against Burundi on June 7 and against African champions Ivory Coast on June 11 away due to lack of FIFA approved stadiums at home.
All major sports arenas in the country are currently undergoing renovations ahead of the AFCON 2027.
In order for the national team Harambee Stars not to feel ‘lonely’ in Lilongwe, Kenya Football Fans Federation (Kefofa) has embarked on an elaborate plan to ferry five bus loads of supporters to cheer the squad in Malawi.
” We expect to depart for Malawi on June 4, those interested to travel should get in touch with the office as soon as they can,” Kefofa women representative Anima Ferrari told Standard Sports.
Kefofa Vice President Billy Arocho talks during state of the football address at a Nairobi hotel on Monday May 27, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.
Kefofa Chief Executive Officer, Shem Okottah called upon the Government, Sports Ministry and the private sector to come on board to be part of this noble mission.
“Let’s all be united and support our team in this qualifying journey, and the only way to do that is to have our full presence there in Malawi,” Okottah underlined.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat is expected to jet out on June 3 with a 25-man squad for the crunch fixtures, with great hopes that the nation will upscale the ladder, from the current third place standings on Group F. Other rivals in Group F are Gabon, Gambia and Seychelles.
On Monday, Kefofa took issue with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) underlining that the national football governing body has done little to develop the sport in the country.
Kefofa President Francis Liboyi (middle) during the state of the football address at a Nairobi hotel on Monday May 27, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.
“Our football is in a very sorry state. Our game has gone to the dogs. How can a highly volatile fixture like AFC Leopards SC and Kenya Police FC ( the FKF Cup) be taken to Police Sacco Stadium?”
“Currently, our game is on a low, this has even discouraged fans from attending the matches,” Kefofa President Francis Liboyi lamented, adding that the sport is currently bedeviled with match fixing, economic sabotage, embezzlement of funds, high handedness and incompetency.
“There is a lot of chaos marring our sport. Even us, as Kefofa, find it hard to empower football fans across the country because of barriers that have been put in place,” he added.
Ahead of the forthcoming national football elections, Kefofa has urged Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to be highly involved in the polls, stating that it is the only way to ensure that things are free and fair.
