Homeboyz, Gor, Mathare lead KPL Under 20 charge

Homeboyz, Gor, Mathare lead KPL Under 20 charge

Kakamega Homeboyz head to the last eight of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under 20 Championships as the team to beat after sweeping through the group stages with maximum points when quarterfinal action takes centre-stage on Sunday.

Head coach Gilbert Selebwa announced his boys are the true picture of junior teams that should be participating in the tourney while tipping them to lift the trophy.

Group A toppers Gor Mahia will play group B runner’s up Chemelil Sugar while AFC Leopards who settled for the second spot horns with Mathare United who took Group B honours.

The rest of the fixtures in the round of the last-eight will be played on Monday with Group D winners Homeboyz facing off against Sony Sugar who were second to Ulinzi Stars in Group C.

City Stars who sailed through on goal difference over Muhoroni Youth in Group D will play the young soldiers.

“We have been approaching every match differently depending on the opponents which shows our technical abilities. There has been a challenge where we feel some opponents have been fielding ineligible players in terms of age but it has not intimidated my boys, instead it challenges them to work harder with a sense of pride.

“I cannot say we are the team to beat because every team that qualifies to the quarters is a strong force, but we are able to combine skill with speed which gives us the edge over others. If we maintain the discipline we can go all the way to win it,” former AFC Leopards coach Selebwa told Citizen Digital after beating Muhoroni 2-1 to scoop nine points.

His team is a collection of students from Chebuyuchi, Mukumu, Chavakali and Kakamega High schools and sharpened their skills at the regional tournaments.

Gor are another favourite for the crown despite starting on the wrong footing when archrivals Leopards stunned them 2-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

K’Ogalo bounced back with wins over Western Stima and Sofapaka FC to finish top on the back of resounding support from the Green Army faithful who filled Nairobi’s Camp Toyoyo Grounds.

 

Coach Maurice Onyango has singled out striker Joseph Waruinge, who scored a brace against Stima and senior side’s attacker Amos Nondi who nodded in the winner against Muhoroni as the players to inspire the team to the semis.

“In our final match Waruinge was police marked. Everyone saw the trouble he can cause when given space during the Stima match but we were ready for that. Nondi was great too and going forward, with team spirit we will go far,” Onyango.

Different Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) centres make up the age Slum Boys side under the tutelage of William Muluya and their established tradition of excellence in junior football marks them out as potential champions.

“The more we play together, the more we gel and gain momentum. I expect to be sharper going into the quarters, although I have injury and fatigue concerns,” Muluya who led Mathare to the finals of the last KPL Under 20 where they lost to Stima asserted.

The new format of the KPL Under 20 edition will be played in every school holiday period, the next being in August before the final in December.

FIXTURES

Sunday

Gor Mahia vs Chemelil Sugar

AFC Leopards vs Mathare United

Monday

Kakamega Homeboiz vs Sony Sugar

Ulinzi Stars vs City Stars

Tags:

GOR MAHIA Kakamega Homeboyz Mathare United football KPL Under 20

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