Kenyan Government Holds Hongera Awards to Recognize Outstanding Teams
The Ministry of Sports in conjunction with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), organized the Hongera Awards at Safari Park Hotel yesterday evening to honor various teams from across the country for their achievements in the just concluded season.
The winning teams, including Gor Mahia (FKF Premier League champions), Vihiga Queens (Women Premier League champions), Kakamega Homeboys (Mozzart Bet Cup winners), and Ulinzi Starlets (Mozzart Bet Cup winners), were each awarded Kes 5 million as a token of appreciation for their exceptional efforts.
“For the winners of various leagues, Gor Mahia, who won the FKF Premier League, Vihiga Queens, who won the Women Premier League, Kakamega Homeboys who won the Mozzart Bet Cup,and Ulinzi Starlets who also won the Mozzart Bet Cup each team will earn Kes 5 million as a token of appreciation for their efforts,” Namwamba said.
Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba clarified that while the responsibility of awarding league winners lies with the sponsors, the government decided to extend its support to the teams while addressing the sponsorship issue.
Namwamba acknowledged that Vihiga Queens, despite winning the Women Premier League, received limited recognition and rewards. He emphasized that it is not the government’s role to replace sponsors, but they are actively working on resolving the sponsorship challenges. He promised to announce a comprehensive solution soon.
“Vihiga Queens won the WPL and received barely anything to talk about. It is not the business of the government to take over the place of sponsorship because ideally, that whole space of monetary awards should be part of the sponsorship. Very soon we will be announcing to the people of Kenya the work we have done to sort the challenge of sponsorship,” he said.
“But as we sort out that sponsorship issue, I promise that we will be making an announcement before the new week starts. In recognition of the fact that the just-ended league had a number of challenges, we have put together a package that will offer a token of appreciation to the winners of all lower divisions. At the level of division two and division one, we are giving a token of 2.4 million to each winner in each zone.” Added the minister for Sports.
Additionally, all teams that participated in the concluded FKF Premier League and the National Super League were awarded Kshs 500,000 each. The National Super League winners, Shabana FC, received Kshs 3 million, while the runners-up, Murang’a Seals, received Kshs 2 million.
FFKF Division One and Two winners will also be granted Kshs 300,000 each. AFC Leopards, currently facing a case at FIFA involving their immediate former coach Patrick Aussems, received Kshs 5 million to assist with the matter.
The Hongera Awards served as a platform to recognize and support the achievements of these outstanding teams while reinforcing the government’s commitment to addressing challenges in sports sponsorship.
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