President Dr William Samoei Ruto this morning shared breakfast with Harambee Stars football team at the Pullman Hotel in Nairobi.
The team will be taking on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the opening match slated for Sunday, August 3, at the Kasarani Stadium. In 1987 Harambee Stars drew Tunisia 1—1 in the tournament opener at the same venue and Kenyans are anxious to see whether the current squad can repeat the same feat.
During breakfast with the players Ruto made lofty promises of cash prizes to fire the team up to victory.
“I want us to make a deal. For every game you win, every player gets KES 1 million. For every game you draw, every player gets KES 500,000. We had agreed that the team would get KES 20 million for making it to the finals. But I make it KES 60 Million if you make it to the finals. I have multiplied everything for everyone to play their part,” the president said.
Each stage throughout the Harambee Stars’ campaign will attract a prize, the president promised.
Upon making it to the quarters, the team will get KES 60 million, the highest offer a Kenyan football side has ever been promised.
Ruto also made cash promises for reaching quarters and semis.
Kenya is co-hosting the tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
CHAN kicked off on Saturday, August 2, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where Tanzania’s Taifa Stars will take on Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently released gate access and ticket verification guidelines for the tournament.
In Kenya, the championship will feature Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani Stadium as key venues, with thousands of fans expected to attend.
At Nyayo National Stadium, there will be four gates in operation.
Gates 1 and 2 will be accessible via Uhuru Highway, with ticket verification conducted at Bunyala, Lusaka, T-Mall, and Mombasa Road.
Gate 3 will serve fans arriving via Lang’ata Road (Posta side) and will also use the same verification points.
Gate 4 is reserved exclusively for VIP and VVIP ticket holders and is accessible through Douglas Wakiihuri Road (Aerodrome Drive), with ticket verification taking place after the gate entrance.
All gates apart from Gate 4 will serve Regular and Silver ticket holders.
At Kasarani Stadium, another four gates will be in use.
Gates 1 and 2 will admit fans approaching from TRM, Mwiki, Ngomongo, and the Safari Park Footbridge.
Entry will be granted via Entries 1 to 4, with verification points stationed at TRM Interchange, the entry point opposite Safari Park Hotel, Ngomongo Police Station, and Kasarani Gate 11.
Gate 3 will also use Entry 4 via the Safari Park Footbridge and share verification locations with Gates 1 and 2.
Gate 4 is strictly reserved for presidential, VVIP, media, and other accredited personnel, with entry limited to the Safari Park Footbridge and ticket checks conducted directly at the gate.
Gates 1 to 3 will cater to Regular and Silver ticket holders.
The president afterwards posted on his social media handles:
“CHAN 2024 is a moment for Kenya to shine. It’s our chance to showcase the talent of our players, the unity of our people, and the warmth of our hospitality as we proudly co-host this continental tournament.
This month, there’s only one party: Harambee Stars and our slogan is “Stars Must Win”. Let’s turn out in large numbers and rally behind our national team as they push for victory.
Joined the Harambee Stars for a breakfast meeting at Pullman Hotel, Nairobi County, as they gear up for CHAN 2024.”
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