Allan Wanga has made a return to Tusker FC from Tanzania giants Azam FC.PHOTO/Michezo Africa.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 30 – A total of 47 players drawn from the Kenyan Premier League clubs have been selected ahead of the first ever football match pitting English Premier League side Hull City and a Kenyan select side in February.
The provisional squad that includes 16 year old Joshua Otieno will report training camp in January.
Preparations for the big game at the KCOM Stadium began earlier in November when two of the Hull City Academy coaches, Richard Naylor and Kris Blakeston visited Kenya on a scouting mission to pick out the country’s top football talent.
Tasked with selecting 50 players to attend a special training camp, the English duo took in international fixtures against Mozambique and Liberia, league matches and training sessions at the country’s top clubs but selected only 47.
With shortlists and player recommendations now submitted, coaches will return to Kenya for the training camp early in the New Year to pick out the top 16 players who will go on to form the SportPesa All Stars squad that will travel to England to take on Hull City in February.
“SportPesa All Stars is the beginning of Kenya’s journey to qualification for the World Cup in 2022 and we look forward to the two matches they will play against Hull City,” SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri said.
The friendly match at the KCOM Stadium in the United Kingdom next year is part of Hull City’s continued support of shirt sponsor SportPesa’s commitment to develop Kenyan football to global standards, and their efforts to help Kenya qualify for their first ever World Cup in 2022.
“SportPesa All Stars project is truly unique. It fully demonstrates that our partnership with SportPesa goes way beyond a branding exercise and is something that is having a positive impact in developing Kenyan football,” Hull City Commercial Manager Simon King stated.
“The first stage of the project has gone incredibly well and we now look forward to organising the training camp in January when our coaches will have the tough task of picking a squad to play at the KCOM Stadium in February.”
This comes at a time when Hull City are also working closely with the betting firm on the ‘Kits For Kenya’ campaign, which calls on supporters to donate any football kit items to be sent out to Kenya to help enhance the prospects of young players in the country.
Gor Mahia midfielder Francis Kahata leads celebrations after scoring the winner to book a final berth in 2016 KPT Top 8.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.
Deposit boxes can be found in Hull City’s Leisure stores at the KCOM Stadium and Prospect Shopping Centre until the end of December for any fans that wish to donate.
Selected players:
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers)
Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia)
David Okello (Tusker)
Gabriel Andika (Western Stima)
Defenders
Robinson Kamura (Mathare United)
Lloyd Wahome (Tusker)
James Situma (Tusker)
Rogers Omondi (Ulinzi Stars)
Wesley Onguso (Western Stima)
Charles Momanyi (Kakamega Homeboyz)
Christopher Oruchum (Thika United)
Joackins Atudo (Posta Rangers)
Simon Mbugua (Posta Rangers)
Eric Ouma (Gor Mahia)
Haron Shakava (Gor Mahia)
Midfielders
Mieno Humphrey (Tusker)
Cersidy Okeyo (Tusker)
Osborn Monday (Tusker)
Haron Nyakha (AFC Leopards)
Michael Otieno (Ulinzi Stars)
Apollo Otieno Onyango (Chemilil Sugar)
Edwin Clifford Omondi (Chemilil Sugar)
Dennis Monda (Sony Sugar)
Joshua Otieno (Sony Sugar)
Ali Bai (Kakamega Homeboyz)
Cavin Odongo (Posta Rangers)
David Kingatua (Bandari)
Amos Nondi (Gor Mahia)
Eston Esiye (Western Stima)
Strikers
Paul Kiongera (AFC Leopards)
Eric Johana (Mathare United)
Moses Odhiambo (Sofapaka)
Paul Odhiambo (Sofapaka)
Antony Ndolo (Tusker)
Allan Wanga (Tusker)
Cliff Kasuti (Ulinzi Stars)
John Makwata (Ulinzi Stars)
Hubert Kopany (Western Stima)
Brian Marita (Western Stima)
Erastus Mwaniki (Chemelil Sugar)
Victor Majid (Chemelil Sugar)
Samuel Ndungu (Muhoroni Youth)
Eugene Mukangula (Thika United)
Georson Likono (Posta Rangers)
Geofrey Kataka (Posta Rangers)
Darius Msagha (Bandari)
Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia)
