Stars’ multi-million shilling deal

East African Breweries will enter a Sh110 million, three-year sponsorship deal with Harambee Stars, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Tuesday.

This will easily be the national team’s biggest, single-sourced sponsorship package in the history of football in Kenya.

Speaking in his office while receiving the team, Mr Odinga appealed for more corporate sponsorship saying there was need for increased investment in football in the country to further boost the rising standards of the game.

Mr Odinga congratulated Stars for beating Guinea Bissau 2-1 and reviving their hopes of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.

He gave the team a Sh1 million reward for the win and announced President Kibaki’s pledge of Sh2 million reward should they beat Uganda on October 8 in Kampala.

He called for thorough preparations before the do-or-die clash against arch-rivals Uganda and appealed to football fans in the country to travel to Kampala in large numbers to cheer the Stars.

Cannot drop points

Present when he received the Stars were team officials and players led by coach Zedekiah Otieno and Harambee Stars Management Board vice-chairman Richard Omwela.

Mr Odinga, an avid football fan, pointed out that some of the team’s undoing came from poor coordination as a result of not practicing together before crucial matches.

He said the team needed to stay in the camp longer to build teamwork amongst the players.

“There is a lot of talent in our national team that must be nurtured to mould a more cohesive team capable of playing well and shooting accurately at the goal,” he said.

In the Kenyan Premier League, action resumes tomorrow when champions Ulinzi Stars take on Mathare United.

The clash of the past and the present champions will be played at the Nyayo National Stadium with the “Armymen” looking for a win so as to leapfrog Gor Mahia who lie just ahead of them in second spot.

The soldiers cannot afford to drop points especially after having had to forfeiting six points due to their participation in the World Military Games in Brazil.

But with only six points behind leaders Tusker, the army men will feel they can make up the difference.

They face a Mathare side that has won one and drawn four of their last five matches. Just like last season, the “Slum Boys” are the draw experts in the league with ten ties already.

While they have been strong defensively, scoring goals has been their biggest problem having scored only 18, less than a goal a game.

Mathare will have to make do without defensive lynchpin Lloyd Wahome who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.

In their defence, they do have a relatively good record against the current champions and will fancy their chances against Ulinzi.

Additional reporting by SuperSport.com