Kenya football under-20 team during training.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18 – Eight Kenyan Premier League Players have been drafted in the 27-man provisional squad named by Kenya’s football under-20 head coach John Kamau ahead of the friendly against Sudan slatted for May 27 at the Moi International Sports center Kasarani.
Captain and Gor Mahia midfielder Amos Nondi headlines the team that also has Edwin Mukolwe from AFC Leopards, Chemelil Sugar’s Joseph Okumu and Thika United’s Collins Okumu.
The team will be in action for the first time since being disqualified from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on April 19 after Sudan successfully appealed that Kenya fielded five ineligible players when the two sides clashed in the first-leg of the preliminary round that ended 1-1.
Eight players are from high school led by Laiser Hill Academy that produced four players led by Harambee Stars winger Ayub Timbe’s young brother Musa Masika.
Division two has players from Kariobangi Sharks, Zoo Kericho and Nzoi Sugar FC with the team expected to report camp on Monday next week.
Kamau’s charges will curtain raise the international friendly pitting hosts Harambee Stars and the Sudan senior team on the same day.
However, the Stars team will not feature professional players like skipper and Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama as head coach Stanly Okumbi is expected to field players who have potential to feature for the senior team.
After the Sudan build-up, Stars will face Tanzania two days later at the same venue in another friendly.
Kenya U-20 provisional squad;
Timothy Odhiambo (SoNy Sugar), Edwin Mukolwe (AFC Leopards), Collins Okumu (Thika United), Joseph Okumu (Chemelil Sugar), Kevin Owino (Laiser Hill), David Owino (Laiser Hill), Samuel Semo (Korokocho Youth), Dennis Gicheru (Posta Rangers), Job Ochieng (Sunrise Academy /Mathare United U20), Baraka Badi -Thika United FC -RB John Macharia, (Laiser Hill), James Gichinji (KigumoBendera High Sch), Musa Masika (Laiser Hill), Amos Nondi (GorMahia), Vincent Wasambo (K. Sharks), Ibrahim Shambi (Ulinzi Youth), Jeffery Owiti (Chemelil Sugar), Michael Ochieng’ (K. Sharks), AbdirahamMuhammed (Takwa Isiolo), Leroy Otieno (Gor Youth) James Mazembe (ZOO FC), James Kinyajui (Passenga Boys), Victor Ogendo (Nzoia Sugar), Bilali Mohammed (Bandari Youth), Michael Njuguna (KigumoBendera High school), Abdiweli Mohammed (Heights Academy), Andrew Kisuli (Sunrise Academy / Mathare United U20)
