Kamau backs young Stars to rise to World Cup challenge

The Kenya national Under 20 football Coach John Kamau has lauded Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) push to ensure the youth team has enough international exposure ahead of their pair of friendly matches in Dakar, Senegal.

Last week, FKF President Nick Mwendwa backed Harambee Stars First Coach Stanley Okumbi to lead the country to its first ever World Cup finals and Kamau believes his players form the core of that dream team.

The team’s preparations have been hampered by technical challenges including the lack of necessary travelling documents as well as player availability.

“We play on Friday and on Sunday yet some players have only been in camp for one week. The challenge our two matches collided with the annual school calendar.

“We instructed the players report to the camp in Kasarani last Thursday but because a majority of the players were still in school we had to wait until Sunday to fully assemble them and kick start the preparations.

“Despite the minimum interaction we’ve had with them in camp I doubt we’ll have difficulties in squad selection because most of these players are now regulars. We identified more promising players during the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) under 20 championships and hopefully we’ll end up with the right squad,” Kamua told Citizen Digital.

The former Thika United tactician urged FKF to organize more of such high profile friendly matches.

“I’m happy that the federation is keen to give younger players this kind of exposure. It’s a good move and will definitely pay off.”

Kamau confirmed the squad will miss the services of two key players with Musa Masika, a student at Laiser Hill, held with school commitments and Victor Ogendo ruled out with an injury.

Traveling Squad

Humphrey Katasi, Job Ochieng’, Samuel Semo, Samuel Murunga, Ezekiel Nyati, Washington Onyango, Baraka Badi, David Owino, Bernard Ouma, Collins Njuguna, Teddy Osok, Vincent Wasambo, John Macharia, Abdikadir Mohamed, James Mazembe, Francis Muturi, Ovellah Ochieng’, Remy Sheikh and Jaffery Owiti.

-Report by Mwangi Githinji.