KPL names All Stars squad to face Spanish Segunda sides

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Thursday named a list 20 players that will play two invitational friendly matches against two clubs from the Segunda Division in Spain.

The news marks the first palpable development resulting from the collaboration agreement signed between LaLiga and the KPL and which was presented in Nairobi last month.

Harambee Stars First Coach Stanley Okumbi will for the second time be tasked with leading an All Stars team made up of KPL players after handling a similar job when he led local players to the UK to play Hull City Select XI.

Okumbi will be assisted by Harambee Stars Under 20 Coach John Kamau with the duo expected to trim the squad to a final list of 18 that will depart for the nine-day visit set to commence on July 17.

A team doctor will also accompany the squad with LaLiga set to cater for the air tickets and full-board accommodation of the entire KPL All Star team.

Last year in October, a delegation from the KPL visited Madrid to gain an insight into LaLiga’s working methods before subsequent visits yielded in a formal partnership agreement seven months later.

The deal includes collaborations in areas such as management, marketing and communication, as well as helping to set up a match-analysis centre, and sharing expertise and tools related to the likes of match analysis and technical development.

The two bodies will also team up to organise seminars for Kenyan coaches and other events such as exhibition matches between LaLiga clubs and a KPL All-Star squad.

Below is a provisional list of 20 players selected for the All Star team which will later be reduced to 18.