Airtel Rising Stars 2014 boys’ champions, Kakamega High SChool. PHOTO/File
NAIROBI, June 18- The annual Airtel Rising Stars age football talent search tournament will be launched Wednesday week, organisers have announced.
The two-month event open to secondary schools countrywide will be crowned by the August 8 final in Machakos County.
The highlight of the boy’s category will be the tussle between reigning champions, Kakamega High School and beaten finalists Kisumu Day Boys who are hell bent on going one better this year.
Former champions Upper Hill, Ofafa Jericho, Kamukunji, Nzoia region (formerly Western Province) titans St. Anthony, Musingu Boys and Chavakali High alongside upcoming stars Kathungi High schools are other highly rated challengers to the crown.
Butere Girls who narrowly edged out St. John’s Kaloleni at last year’s girls’ decider have all to do for repeat victory with the likes of Lugulu Girls and Mukumu Girls’ joining the losing finalists, former winners Olympic Secondary and Tartar Girls as a formidable obstacles to the champions.
“We are confident that the programme will continue to provide a platform for scouts, coaches, football authorities and other partners to tap into a vast pool of upcoming talent.
“The tournament has produced exceptional talented players such as Michael Olunga of Kenya Premier League leaders Gor Mahia. We are confident that the tournament will continue to produce your talented players who will help move the football game to the next level,” Airtel Kenya CEO, Adil El Youssefi underscored.
“Airtel’s sponsorship of this tournament underscores commitment to creating excitement for sports lovers as well as providing empowerment opportunities for Kenyan youth,” David Ngugi, the chairman of Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association added.
