This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
November 18, 2019, marked another embarrassing episode in Kenya's sports history, but this time, the Harambee Stars defied expectations by delivering a sharp performance in Egypt.
Contrary to the usual 16-hour flights around the world, the team could have taken a direct five-hour flight to Egypt, but that's not how things are done in Kenya. The players, in the wisdom of the sports ministry and the Football Kenya Federation, must endure horrible jet lags and muscle cramps to perform well in their game.
When the team arrived in Alexandria, officials were shocked to find the players' morale still intact. In an attempt to dampen this, they threw spanners into the works, but the Egyptian Sports Minister intervened, ultimately contributing to the team's success.
The debacle of accommodation in Alexandria was the final nail in the coffin of good performance, but the team's sharp performance against the feared Pharaohs was a testament to their resilience.
The tiff between the FKF and the Principle Secretary for Sports is getting murkier by the day, with accusations and finger-pointing on all sides. It's time for reconciliation and accountability, lest the antagonists resign or disappear into thin air.
