NAIROBI, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya national women's team - Harambee Starlets - were on Wednesday ordered to report back to training camp on Thursday for their final Tokyo 2020 qualifier against Zambia barely 24 hours after they were ordered to leave.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Wednesday confirmed that the team had been assured of featuring in their two-legged tie with Zambia on Nov. 8 and 11 following talks with the country's ministry of sports that started shortly after the announcement for the girls to leave camp was made a day earlier.
"The cabinet secretary has also assured the federation that budgetary requests regarding the team's upcoming fixtures against Zambia will be met," FKF said in a statement.
"It is our strong belief that going forward, the office of the Cabinet Secretary will continue to work towards ensuring that Kenyan sportsmen and women are accorded the much-needed support to prepare adequately for international assignments," FKF said.
The impasse that saw Starlets ordered out and then back into their camp was sparked by FKF president, Nick Mwendwa, who claimed on Tuesday that the government had withheld monies from the Sports Fund established to assist national teams meet their obligations for qualification and participation in major tournaments.
On the other hand, officials in the ministry called on FKF to present audited accounts of how they have used State monies and other grants from world governing body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football as well as corporate sponsors before they could access more funds.
