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Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has vowed to break the bank to ensure that Harambee Stars get five-star treatment despite the financial challenges the federation is facing.

Speaking to PD Wikendi Friday, Mwendwa who lauded Stars for their 1-1 result in their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group G qualifier, said there was no way the team would revert to previous years when they were booked at the Kasarani Stadium hostels or Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) ahead of crucial matches yet their opponents were booked in five-star hotels.

“I’m ready to sell my dairy cows to ensure national team players get the best treatment even if money from the Ministry of Sports is not coming through. I’m calling on other well-wishers and corporate companies to come on board and support these players,” Mwendwa said.

He added: “Stars are arriving on Saturday morning and the entire team will be booked at Safari Park Hotel ahead of our Monday qualifying match. There is no way our opponents, Togo, can stay in a hotel of that standard and the home team stays at some low standard facility and we expect to get results. The era when national team players who comprise world stars put up in hostels before national duty is long gone but the Ministry wants to take us back there.”

Mwendwa said the Sports Ministry had asked the federation to take the team to either Kasarani hostels or KSMS hostels.

The rates at Safari Park go for around Sh20,000 per person per day and the entire Harambee Stars team, including the technical staff and officials, consist about 35 people.                                           -Webster Nyandika