Kenya women's amputee team stranded in Germany after fourth place World Cup finish
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 13.11.24. | 10:37
A Kenyan in Berlin told Mozzart Sport that the team's coach called him saying that they had "problems and needed help"
The Kenya women’s national amputee football team was left stranded in Frankfurt on Tuesday 12 November and had to rely on the aid of Kenyans living in Germany to “find a place where they would spend the night” before taking a connecting flight to Nairobi.
The team of 12 women players and their coach were making their way from Barranquilla, Colombia, where they had just participated in the inaugural WAFF Amputee Football Women’s World Cup, finishing fourth.
Upon reaching Frankfurt, the team, as per their head coach, had to take a lengthy layover before boarding their next flight to Nairobi.
But according to one of the Kenyans living in Berlin, the team’s coach contacted him on Tuesday morning, saying that they had “problems and needed help.”
“The coach called me this morning and told me about the layover from 1600 to 1100 hrs,” Oscar, staying in Berlin, told Mozzart Sport on Tuesday. “Somehow the 12 women and their coach are asking us to help them find a place where they can spend a night, refresh, and maybe also get something to eat as they wait to connect their flight tomorrow back to Nairobi.”
And while Oscar and his friends managed to open a group, fundraise, and secure the team a “lodge” and foodstuff, the spotlight now shines on the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts.
Kenyans living in Germany stepped up to support the Kenyan Amputee Football Team, providing accommodation and food during their long layover in Berlin.
— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) November 13, 2024
The national women's team was returning from Colombia, where they had competed in the World Cup and finished in fourth place.… pic.twitter.com/AgIUAm3otO
“I used to play with the team’s coach back in our days and he told me in person that they don’t have miscellaneous expenses,” Oscar said. “I think both the Government and the Federation have neglected them.”
Mozzart Sport has initiated contact with the team and the circumstances leading to the incident.
At the World Cup, Kenya went unbeaten in the group stages to top Pool B, before beating Ukraine 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
Their journey however came to an end when they lost 1-0 to the hosts in the semifinals.
In the third-place match, they came unstuck, losing 1-0 to Poland to finish in fourth place.
Very proud of our Women's National Amputee Football Team, which has had a great run in the 2024 Women's Amputee Football World Cup in Colombia.
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) November 10, 2024
Even though we’ve suffered our first loss of the tournament this morning in the hands of the hosts, Colombia, in the semis (1-0), the… pic.twitter.com/qai7oZrKDV
