Kenya U17s off to Tanzania with eyes on CECAFA title

The first batch of nine national U17 football team players departed the country  on Wednesday for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the remaining lot set to travel on Thursday.

This is ahead of the upcoming Africa U17 Cup of Nations CECAFA Region Qualifying tournament set to be played between August 11 – 26, to determine which team from the CECAFA region takes part in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania.

Coach Michael Amenga has expressed satisfaction in the team’s preparations ahead of the tourney, further exuding confidence that his charges will post positive results.

“We have had adequate preparations for the tourney. The players are motivated and I am confident that we will better our performance (fourth place finish) at the CECAFA U17 Championships in Burundi,” said coach Amenga said.

Kenya’s first match of the tourney will see the Junior Stars face off with South Sudan on August 14, 2018, at the National Stadium in Tanzania.

The winner of the tournament will gain qualification to the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania alongside the hosts who qualify automatically.

The second best team could also make it to the tourney in case Tanzania emerges champions.

Travelling Team

Goalkeepers

Maxwell Muilili (Mukumu Boys), Bixente Lazarazu (Kamukunji High School), Brian Olang’o (Kamukunji High School)

Defenders

Telvin Maina (Laiser Hill Academy), Arnold Onyango (Laiser Hill Academy), Francis Kayugi (Laiser Hill Academy), Alphonce Omija (Babadogo Secondary Sch), Oscar Kamori (Koyonzo Boys), Richdonald Bolo (Homabay Secondary), Tony Castro Odhiambo (Butere Boys)

Midfielders

Saidi Musa (Eastleigh High School), Felix Chabaya (Brownhill Secondary), Nicholas Omondi (Soweto Baptist), Lesley Otieno (Sunflower Secondary), Hussein Abdulmalik (Mombasa Secondary), Keith Imbali (Eastleigh High School)

Forwards

Mathew Mwendwa (Annointed High School), Ezekiel Mogendi (Bahati Secondary School)

Fixtures

Saturday, August 11

Group A: Rwanda vs Sudan (National Stadium)

Group A: Tanzania vs Burundi (National Stadium)

Sunday, August 12

Group B: Southern Sudan vs Djibouti (Chamazi Stadium)

Group B: Uganda vs Ethiopia (Chamazi Stadium)

Monday, August 13

Group A: Sudan vs Somalia (Chamazi Stadium)

Group A: Burundi vs Rwanda (Chamazi Stadium)

Tuesday, August 14

Group B: Kenya vs Southern Sudan (National Stadium)

Group B: Djibouti vs Ethiopia (National Stadium)

Thursday, August 16

Group A: Somalia vs Rwanda (National Stadium)

Group A: Sudan vs Tanzania (National Stadium)

Friday, August 17

Group B: Southern Sudan vs Uganda (Chamazi Stadium)

Group B: Djibouti vs Kenya (Chamazi Stadium)

Saturday, August 18

Group A: Burundi vs Sudan (Chamazi Stadium)

Group A: Tanzania vs Somalia (Chamazi Stadium)

Sunday, August 19

Group B: Ethiopia vs Southern Sudan (National Stadium)

Group B: Kenya vs Uganda (National Stadium)

Tuesday, August 21

Group A: Somalia vs Burundi (National Stadium)

Group A: Rwanda vs Tanzania (National Stadium)

Wednesday, August 22

Group B: Uganda vs Djibouti (Chamazi Stadium)

Group B: Ethiopia vs Kenya (Chamazi Stadium)

Friday, August 24

Winner Group A Vs Runners-up Group B

Winner Group B Vs Runners-up Group A

Saturday, August 26

Third Place Play-off

Final

-Report by FKF