Mwendwa praises jab initiative
By Barry Silah, April 12, 2021
Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has lauded the government’s intervention to get football players in the top division vaccinated even as stakeholders await sports resumption.
The Health and Sports ministries led the Covid-19 vaccination exercise in the presence of the media at Kasarani Indoor Arena.
After getting his jab on Saturday, Mwendwa talked of the need for a quick return to football after President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended all sporting activities a little over a fortnight ago.
“Now that we have undergone the process, it is important that we get back to action fast.
One can understand our haste considering we have important engagements that we cannot overlook for our national teams.
The Harambee Starlets have an invitation from Zambia’s Copper Queens on April 24 as part of their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
That outing is important for us since we want to gauge our preparedness as we hunt for a shot in the 2023 World Cup and Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2022.
“As for Harambee Stars, June is around the corner and we need to prepare the boys for the World Cup Qualifiers with our first match expected in Nairobi against Uganda. So really there is no time to waste.
We strongly urge the government to consider re-opening soon even as we praise their commitment,” stated Mwendwa.
The FKF boss added: “We are going to be very serious with this government-driven agenda because we know the importance.
Indeed, we will print identity cards and certificates for compliant personnel in the pitch. Players and anybody handling them will have to be certified.
We do not want to take any chances and entry to the pitches will strictly be forbidden unless the federation gives the nod.
I am hopeful that by April 24 at the latest, we will be able to proceed with football.”
About 700 players, officials and federation staff had been targeted for the exercise set to end tomorrow.
Harambee Starlets players were first vaccinated under the watchful eye of coach David Ouma and his technical staff.