Harambee Stars head coach laments over unpaid salaries

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FOOTBALL: Harambee Stars head coach laments over unpaid salaries

Festus Chuma 20:00 - 04.09.2023

Harambee Stars' head coach, Engin Firat, has not been paid his owed salary by the government despite assurances from the Ministry of Sports.

Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has openly acknowledged that he has yet to receive his owed salary from the Kenyan government, raising concerns about the financial stability of the national football team's coaching staff.

Despite assurances in June from the Ministry of Sports that the delayed salaries of both Engin Firat and his technical bench would be cleared, the situation remains unresolved. 

While it has been customary for the state to cover the salaries of national football team coaches, it has been revealed that Firat has gone for a staggering nine months without pay.

"There is nobody in Kenyan football who makes more sacrifices than me. I think that is an answer enough… of course, nothing is paid," Firat candidly told reporters during a press conference on Monday.

In June, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba expressed his commitment to resolving the pending salary dues for Firat and his team. 

Namwamba emphasized that a comprehensive framework was in place to ensure the well-being of the national team's coaching staff, with the ultimate goals of securing a spot for Harambee Stars in the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"I am fully aware of the government's obligations towards our national football teams, and I can assure you that we are working closely to fulfill our role, which includes promptly paying the team's head coach and his assistants to adequately prepare our teams," Namwamba stated confidently as per People Daily.

According to the contract between the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Engin Firat, the head coach is entitled to a monthly salary of Ksh 1.5 Million.

 This annual salary amounts to Ksh 18 million, and over the course of his three-year tenure, Firat's total earnings would reach Ksh 54 million.

Originally seeking a monthly salary of Ksh 6 million, Firat engaged in negotiations that led to the agreement on the current figure.

However, considering his monthly earnings, it has become apparent that the government now owes Firat a substantial sum of 13.5 million Kenyan Shillings.

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