Two players donate part of President Ruto's CHAN millions to Shabana FC
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 03.09.25. | 12:42
Both players were part of Kenya’s historic squad that made its maiden appearance at the CHAN tournament, where Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda, co-hosted last month
Harambee Stars players Brian Michira and Austin Odongo have extended a rare gesture of gratitude to their club, Shabana FC, by donating part of the money they received from President William Ruto’s reward package for Kenya’s exploits at the recently concluded 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
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The two players, who recently rejoined Shabana after national team duty, each contributed Ksh100,000, bringing the total to Ksh200,000.
The money will be distributed across the board, covering current squad members, the technical bench, and even players who were released at the end of last season but had played a role in the club’s recent progress.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Michira revealed that the donation was meant to acknowledge the role Shabana FC played in shaping their careers and contributing to their rise to the national stage.
"Yes, it’s true we have both donated Ksh100,000 each to the team as a way of saying thank you for playing a part in our success. Without their input, we couldn’t have made it to the continental stage,” he said.
Both players were part of Kenya’s historic squad that made its maiden appearance at the CHAN tournament, which Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda, co-hosted last month.
Although Michira did not feature in any match, Odongo earned minutes in the quarterfinal tie against Madagascar.
The Harambee Stars went on to enjoy a memorable group-stage campaign, remaining unbeaten with three wins and a draw.
Their victories included a famous triumph over eventual champions Morocco, two-time winners DR Congo, and Zambia, while holding Angola to a draw to top Group A with ten points.
Kenya’s fairy-tale run, however, ended in heartbreak at the quarter-final stage after they were knocked out by Madagascar in a tense penalty shootout, losing 4-3 after a 1-1 stalemate in both regular and extra time.
Despite the elimination, the team’s spirited performance captured national pride and earned the players and technical bench financial rewards from President Ruto.
The Head of State had pledged Ksh1 million to each player for every win, Ksh500,000 for each draw, and an additional Ksh 2.5 million for the decisive victory against Zambia that sealed Kenya’s quarter-final berth.
In total, the Harambee Stars squad and technical bench walked away with a cumulative bonus of Ksh5 million.
