The Kenya National U17 team has been slated to take part in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations CECAFA Region Qualifying tournament between August 11, and August 26, 2018, in Tanzania.
The team, which kicked off preparations for the tourney on July 26, 2018, in Nairobi, played out a 1-1 draw with the Gor Mahia U20 team in the first of a number of buildup friendly matches lined up.
“We have lined up a number of friendly matches to keep the players both physically and mentally in shape for the tourney,” said coach Michael Amenga, who will lead the team’s technical bench that also includes Kibera Black Stars tactician Godfrey Oduor, Nick Yakhama, and former Kenyan International goalkeeper Jerim Onyango.
“We came fourth at the CECAFA U17 Championships in Burundi in April and are looking at building up on the experience. I’m confident that with adequate preparations, we will get positive results,” he added.
The regional qualification tournament is set to determine which team takes part in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in May 2019 alongside Tanzania, who gain an automatic qualification by virtue of being the hosts. The overall winner will thus get the spot, while the runners-up could also make it in case Tanzania emerges champions.
Kenya has been pooled in Group B alongside Uganda, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan and Djibouti. Group A comprises hosts Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Sudan.
The National U17 team was on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, taken through a series of medical tests to ascertain the player’s age as required by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“CAF requires us to take the players through the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Pre Competition Cardiac Assessment (PCCA) tests. This is aimed at ensuring that the players that take part in the tournament are not only physically fit but also within the required age bracket,” said FKF General Secretary/CEO Robert Muthomi.
Full Squad
Nicholas Omondi (Soweto Baptist), Isaiah Abwal (St Anthony Kitale), Arnold Onyango (Laiser Hill Academy), Telvin Maina (Laiser Hil Academy), Lesley Otieno (Sunflower Secondary), Mathew Mwendwa (Annointed High School), Kennedy Nduto (Sunrise Secondary), Maxwell Mulili (Mukumu Boys), Christopher Raila (St Anthony Kitale), Brian Olang’o (Kamukunji Secondary), Saidi Musa (Eastleigh High School), Daniel Odhiambo (St Anthony Kitale), Felix Chabaya (Brownill Secondary), Alphonce Omija (St Johns Secondary), Francis Ayugi (Laiser Hil Academy), Maqbul Daudi (Bright Stars High School), Ezekiel Mgendi (Bahati Secondary School), Geoffrey Onyango (Br Beausang Educational Centre), Stephen Owino (Arwings Kodhek High School), Keith Imbali (Eastleigh High School), Hussein Abdulmalik (Congo Boys), Elijah Oduor (Laiser Hill Academy), Kevinton Mwachika (Kakamega High School), Kimanzi Erick (Chaani Youth), Victor Benson (Alliance High School), Abdul Ahmed (Raila Educational Centre), Telvin Omutere (Bridgeway High School), Richdonald Bolo (Gor Mahia Youth), Lopaga Josephat (Gor Mahia Youth), Bixente Lazarazu (Kamukunji Secondary)