Football

Okumbi welcomes the inclusion of Spain-based stars in Talanta Hela U19 squad

The Talanta Hela U19 Boys team poses for a group photo ahead of their friendly against Kenya U20 on Wednesday 19 March at Kasarani Annex © Allan Netia

By Rama Mohammed | Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Spain-based trio of Aldrine Kibet, Allan Kasavuli and Amos Wanjala plus more foreign-based players are set to join the Talanta Hela U19 boys team during the Costa Durada tournament in Spain

Talanta Hela U19 Stanley Okumbi has welcomed the inclusion of Spain-based stars in the Talanta Hela U19 squad that is due to travel to Spain to compete in the Costa Daurada Tournament.

Speaking yesterday on the sidelines of the friendly match between Talanta Hela U19 and Harambee Stars U20 played at the Kasarani Annex on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, which the latter won 3-1, Sports CS Namwamba confirmed that Spain-based stars such as Aldrine Kibet, Alvin Kasavuli, and Amos Wanjala who had been called up to the Harambee Stars U20 squad will now link up with Talanta Hela U19 squad travelling to Spain.

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CS Namwamba, responding to what he termed as “online banter” by Kenyan football fans who had questioned FKF’s failure to ensure foreign-based youngsters joined the Harambee Stars U20 planning to travel to Malawi to compete in the Four Nations Tournament, said that the Ministry of Sports had made prior arrangement with FKF to have some foreign-based players join the Talanta Hela U19 squad.

“All these boys (Talanta Hela U19 and Harambee Stars U20) are part of one structured and seamless programme. We had agreed with the Federation that Aldrine Kibet, Alvin Kasavuli, and Amos Wanjala will remain in Spain and join the team travelling there. We will also have team bolstered with players based in other countries like the UK,” CS Namwamba said.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Stanley Okumbi embraced the plan as one that will strengthen his team as they had deficits in some positions.

“If that happens, then that will be a big boost for the team because there are positions we are short like right back and left back. We even had to play a winger at left back position and so we will need players who can fill those positions. We also do not have a striker,” Okumbi.

Okumbi also said that he expects Talanta Hela U19 to face stiffer competition in Spain and he is currently working on a robust tactical plan to compensate for the low fitness levels in the team.

“Most of the players in the team play in the regional and county leagues where they have not had a lot of matches. Therefore, their fitness level is not at a desired level yet. That is why we struggled a bit against Harambee Stars U20 and we have little time to improve on fitness before we leave for Spain. Therefore, we will focus more on getting our tactics rights because the competition in Spain will be stiff,” Okumbi said.