Enock Wanyama of Chapa Dimba All-Stars in training at Cambrillis, Spain
SALOU, Spain, May 13 – Rejuvenated by watching live the La Liga match pitting European giants Barcelona and Getafe at the iconic Camp Nou Stadium, the Chapa Dimba All-Star team is geared to pick a win in their second friendly match on Monday night in Spain.
The boys and girls All Star teams will take on Saint Gabriel, with the boys looking to bounce back from their opening day 5-3 loss to Segunda Division side Reus while the girls are looking to better their 3-3 draw against the same opponents.
Having already spent six days in Barcelona training with la Liga accredited coaches and touring various sites in the historic city, the All-Star teams on Sunday, had a once in a life time opportunity when they watched Barca beat Getafe 2-0 at the 95,000 capacity Camp Nou Stadium.
Speaking to Capital Sport from Spain, South B United forward Enock Wanyama, disclosed that watching Lionel Messi play live was a dream come true and a motivation to the team especially noting that what they had picked up from their training sessions were applied by the Catalonian giants on match day.
He noted that the All-Star team struggled in the first friendly because they had not gelled as an outfit since they were each picked from different teams with different philosophies and playing styles.
“We were lucky to come here in Spain when its heading to summer so the weather is friendly. We have learnt how to pass the ball with precision and open space, the ‘tiki-taka’ style of play that is familiar with Spain, and that’s what we saw when we watched Barcelona play live,” Wanyama disclosed.
“This will motivate us as we head to the second friendly tonight in Barcelona, we have a good chance to win because we have now gelled. My dream is to go back to Kenya and share the experience with my team-mates who did not make it to Spain. We train twice a day and its only about skills not vigorous in running like in Kenya,” Wanyama, who is a Manchester United fan but dreams of playing for Arsenal, told Capital Sport.
-Girls challenge-
Lavender Murumwa of Chapa Dimba All-Stars (Right) in control of the ball against a Rues Deportiu ladies player during a friendly match at Futbol Salou grounds in Spain.
The girls’ team has been highly rated by the coaches, with a couple of players shining in training as well as during the first friendly match last Friday.
Among them is Catherine Arigo who is a striker from Mombasa, and she is optimistic the experience of being in Spain and training with top coaches will leave her a better player.
“This is an experience that I have never had in my life especially being here at the Camp Nou. I have never seen such a big stadium! One day I wish to play here. Watching Messi play was something magical. I felt like storming to the pitch and shake his hand,”
Being there and seeing how it is done at the top level has given us confidence ahead of Monday’s friendly. We are determined to go and win because we have trained very well and improved generally as a team,” Aringo stated.
The team that is enjoying a 10-day training camp in Cambrilis in the outskirts of Barcelona under the watchful eyes of La Liga coaches, spent the Monday training session working on passing and movement skills.
-Alex Isaboke is reporting from Cambrilis, Spain-
