Young talents strike it rich after shining during the nationwide Talanta Hela tournament
It has been an ecstatic weekend for the 2023 Talanta Hela Tournament winners as they pocketed huge amounts of money in cash rewards for their toil during the inaugural football showpiece in the country last year.
The Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) delivered the goodies to the national tournament-winning teams and regional champions.
The money, totaling Sh34m, was paid directly to the players, living up to the Ministry of Sports’ popular line of ‘Talanta Hela, pesa mfukoni’.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has been at the forefront drumming for the direct benefitting of the players that display their sporting or creative gifts in their respective fields of trade.
Homabay County and Busia County teams were the biggest recipients of the distributed amount, having brushed off stiff competition to clinch the Talanta Hela U19 first edition trophy in boys and girls categories respectively. Each team received a whopping Ksh 5m following their deserving triumphs last December.
The amount was channeled to players’ bank accounts, mobile money transfer, or parent/guardian’s accounts subject to the decision of the player. In summary, each player in the winning teams, that is Homabay and Busia County, received Sh166,000.
Agola Otyang’, a mother to the superb Busia County goalkeeper Christine Adhiambo, was in a jolly mood during the award ceremony for the Western and Nyanza region winners held at the Kisumu County Commissioner’s office.
“I am so grateful for this day and this moment; this is a true sign that indeed talent can pay. I would like to thank our Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba for bringing this Talanta Hela initiative. Our players being taken to Nairobi to play football was so uplifting. We have received the money, and for sure we will be thankful forever. Through this money, I have paid school fees for my girls, and I will buy a cow that will be seeing every moment and reminding me of the fruits of Talanta Hela,” she said with happiness written on her face.
Director at the Kenya Academy of Sports James Theuri revealed that 80 per cent of the amount was being distributed to the players while the remaining 20 per cent was given to the team’s management.
Speaking to People Sport, Theuri averred: “I am equally happy to see the excitement in players and parents. This is the true spirit of Talanta Hela; we want to make a difference in the lives of the players. Through the first edition tournament, a lot of opportunities have opened up for the players who have already joined FKF Premier League teams.”
All the 12 regional winners for both boys and girls were also awarded Sh500,000 each.
