The Kenya national U17 team has kicked off residential training in Nairobi ahead of the upcoming 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations CECAFA Region Qualifying tournament set to be played between August 11, and August 26, 2018, in Tanzania.
This follows successful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Pre Competition Cardiac Assessment (PCCA) tests carried out on the players on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, as required by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ascertain whether the players are within the required age bracket.
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The team is under the tutelage of coach Michael Amenga, who will have Kibera Black Stars tactician Godfrey Oduor, Nick Yakhama and former Kenyan International goalkeeper Jerim Onyango on his technical bench.
Coach Michael Amenga issues instructions to a section of the national U17 team’s players during Thursday’s training session at Camp Toyoyo
“Youth development is part of Football Kenya Federation’s long-term football development agenda, and this is why we have invested in junior national teams,” said coach Amenga.
“We got to the semifinals at the CECAFA U17 Championships in Burundi in April and I am confident that with adequate preparations, we will post positive results in Tanzania,” he added.
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Group B
The tournament will determine which team takes part in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in May 2019 alongside Tanzania, who gain automatic qualification by virtue of being the hosts. The overall winner will thus get the spot, while the runners-up could also make it in case Tanzania emerges champions.
Kenya has been pooled in Group B alongside Uganda, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan and Djibouti. Group A comprises hosts Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Sudan.
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