- The team was selected from the inaugural Talanta Hela Inter Counties tourney
- The boys and girls’ teams head to Spain for a tournament
- Various scouts will be available to watch the players
Kenya’s All-Star team selected from the inaugural edition of the Talanta Hela Under-19 Inter-County tournament was flagged off for a series of activities in Taragona Spain by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.
The team is set to play ion a tournament as well as several friendly matches, and also benefit from a training camp by coaches from the Nastic Academy.
The youngsters will be looking to embrace the opportunity to play in Spain as well as use the platform to impress scouts who are set to attend the camp and tournament.
The Talanta Hela All-Star teams are expected to participate in the Costa Daurada Cup in the full glare of scouts from various Spanish academies and from other European clubs who normally send representatives to pick the best in the showpiece that starts on Sunday.
The Daurada Cup is normally held twice in a year and has its doors open to boys and girls in the U19, U11, U16 and senior teams.
During the flag off, CS Namwamba and Nastic Academy bosses confirmed that scores of scouts will be monitoring the Kenyan youth closely and the outstanding ones will not board the plane back home but land a chance to develop their football talent in an environment whose sporting structures can only be envied locally.
For Talanta’s William Gitamu, the trip to Spain not only presents him the first opportunity to board a plane but also, the first step towards achieving his childhood dream of playing for English Premier League champions Manchester City.
Talanta star keen to impress
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba flagging off the team
Gitamu who globally idolizes Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior remained confident of winning the hearts of Spanish scouts and probably achieve his dream of seeing and playing against his role model before finding the way to Man City.
“My ultimate dream is to play for Manchester City in future. Traveling to Spain and doing what I love most there in the presence of scouts is an opportunity I want to take with both hands and make it count. I have promised myself to give my best and probably sign a deal,” said the winger.
Gitamu’s wishes coincided with the ones haboured by striker Peter Mutie who bears the ambition to play for European giants Real Madrid.
Mutie who strongly envisages himself captaining the national team in future said he had cast all hopes on his lethal feet to connect his football dream to reality during the stay in Spain.
“I am excited by a number of things. When I fell in love with the game of football, I used to fantasize playing for European clubs and the national team. This trip to Spain, I believe, will open the way for me as I am prepared to showcase my goal scoring abilities and announce myself to the rest of the world. I am also happy to be boarding the plane for the first time and representing my beloved country out there,” said the Kylian Mbappe fanatic.
Coaches keen to see success
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba with one of the Talanta hela U19 team
The aspirations of the young ones in the Talanta Hela U19 team were also shared by their coaches who expressed confidence in their talents winning them contracts in Spain or with other top European academies.
The girls’ head coach Jackline Juma tipped at least five of her stars to succeed and fulfill their desires of playing professional football.
“I have been urging the players to grab this opportunity and make it count. These chances are scarce and the players ought to make the best out of them. I have spent considerable time with them since the scouting process began and I am satisfied with their talents and level of commitment. I am sure we will have a few remaining in Spain,” said Juma
It isn’t a far-fetched plan for some players being retained by the host academy or secure offers elsewhere in the eyes of the boys’ coach Stanley Okumbi.
“We have talent in abundance in the team. I am certain we will match the Spanish teams’ tactically,” said the former national team head coach.
The team faced off with the Harambee Stars U20 team in their last friendly match before travelling to Spain.
Select quotes courtesy SportsBoom
You must be logged in to post a comment Login