Kenya's Under 17 and 20 football teams are set to fly to Spain’s Nastic Soccer Academy in March for elitist training ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In a statement, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba revealed that as part of their preparations, the 2 teams will also participate in the MIC Football-International Youth Football Tournament, which the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) anticipates will serve as adequate preparation ahead of crucial matches.
“Talanta Hela Tournament has given birth to Kenya U17 and U20 national junior teams for boys and girls, which are being prepared for FIFA U17 and U20 World Cup qualifiers starting in 2024,” CS Namwamba said in his statement.
In line with this development blueprint, veteran coach Robert Matano has been selected to coach Kenyan womens' teams ahead of the grand fixtures.
The training is one of the partnerships between Kenya's Sports Ministry under the Talanta Hela initiative and the Spanish Nastic Soccer Academy.
The partnership has contributed to the development of budding Kenyan talents like Tyrone Kariuki, Barone Ochieng, Luis Ingavi, Amos Wanjala, Aldrine Kibet, and Vallery Nekesa.
The Talanta Hela camp also inspired the exciting Kenya U18 boys' team (Junior Stars) which shined in the CECAFA Junior tournament in Kisumu and Kakamega.
During the tournament, Uganda came from behind to beat Kenya 2-1 in the finals in a highly contested match in which Kenya initially gained the lead.
However, CS Ababu has also promised to see the Under 17 and 20 teams through all the future World Cup qualifier competitions henceforth in a bid to improve grassroots football and develop talent for the senior Harambee Stars team.
Meanwhile, the senior Harambee Stars team has already played some 2026 World Cup qualification matches that kicked off on November 16, 2023.
In one of the matches, Kenya lost to Gabon 2-1. Harambee Stars would later recover from that loss by beating Seychelles 5-0.
Harambee stars are further set to play more matches against top opposition in 2024 as the team looks to sharpen its claws further.
