Ex Harambee Stars striker Ambani lands government job after inclusion in Sports Committee

Former Harambee Stars striker Boniface Ambani has landed himself a government job after being appointed in the Sports Technical Committee for the Talanta Hela Council gazetted by The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts on Friday.

Through a gazette notice by the Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, the government announced the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its two technical committees - one for sports and one for the creatives.

The CS will lead the council which will also include the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Sports, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Youth Affairs and the Arts, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Basic Education, and representatives from the Council of Governors.

In addition to these government officials, the Council also includes notable figures from both the sports and creative sectors, such as David Langat, Debra Mallowah, Abraham Kipyego Mutai, Charles Gacheru, Claudia Naisabwa Leshomoo, Nobert Ouma, June Chepkemei and Dennis Itumbi.

The Council’s term is set to last for three years and its terms of reference include providing vision and policy direction, ensure commitment to the initiative at the highest level of government, review progress, and approve necessary policy frameworks.

The Sports Technical Committee is led by renowned sports journalist Carol Radul who will chair the eleven member team. Other members include javelin star Julius Yego, Neddy Kutsuru, Alfred Makotsi, Sammy Tiyoi Shollei, Collins Kale, Kevin Mutai, Shilovelo Winna Shilavula, Daniel Nakeor Losiru and Staicy Shariffa Ochieng.

The committee will serve a term of three years and will be responsible for a range of activities, including promoting the growth of sports, supporting the Kenya Academy of Sports, using technology to identify and nurture talent.

They will also help in establishing a framework to monetize sports and expand employment opportunities, managing the annual bottom-up football tournament, and supporting the Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets in their respective pursuits.

“I am truly humbled. Hon Ababu Namwamba CS, mine is to say thank you for believing in me and for the appointment as a technical committee member of Talanta na Hela initiative. My fellow Kenyans, I promise to do my level best.

I lack words to express my feelings. For now, all I can say is, the Chairperson, Carol Radull, and the rest of the committee members, I wish you all the best, as you undertake the steps of reviving our sports in this country. I believe we have what it takes as a nation to compete with the best on this continent and the world in general. Mungu Tuongoze,” Ambani, who turned out for Tusker, Sporting Club de Goa, East Bengal Club and Yanga, posted on his social media page.

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According to Namwamba, The Talanta Hela is about monetizing talent and putting money into talent so that talents can be a major part of our economic conversation and development.