Stanley Okumbi has named a dozen high school players in the Kenya Under 20 provisional squad ahead of the 2019 Cecafa U20 Championships set to be staged in Uganda.
Leading the 12-list of players, scouted from the just concluded high school games, is the highly talented Dagoretti High School midfieder Zablon Kutera who caught the attention of scouts during the national ball games held in Kisumu in July.
Others are Issa Emoria, the St Anthony Secondary goalkeeper who saved three penalties in the finals, and will have to fight for a starting place alongside experienced Brian Bwire of Kariobangi Sharks and Kevin Ouru from Kakamega High.
The list also has Tyson Omondi (Musingu High), Hassan Mwinyi (Ebwali High School), Mohammed Kazungu (St Peters High School), Boniface Mwangemi (Dagoreti High School), Yussuf Boya (Sunflower Secondary), Vincent Oluoch (St Anthony Sec), Issa Lumumba (St Anthony Sec), Jacob Onyango (St Anthony Sec) and Atem Kato of St Peters High School.
The rest of the squad consist majorly of a chunk of players who were part of the Rising Stars squad that lost to Rwanda in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations Qualifiers in April 2018, with notable inclusions being AFC Leopards’ budding defender Collins Shichenje, Emerging Stars goalkeeper Brian Bwire, and Musa Masika, who played a part in the Harambee Stars’ Africa Nations Championships campaign.
Boniface Mwangemi, Patrick Ngunyi, Alphonce Omija, Keith Imbali, and Issa Lumumba, who were part of the National U17 team that took part in the Union of North African Federations’ (UNAF) U17 tournament in Egypt in April this year, have also earned call-ups.
The team is set to kick off preparations on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, in Nairobi ahead of the two-week tournament set to be held between September 14, to September 28.
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks), Kevin Ouru (Kakamega High), Issa Emoria (St. Anthony Sec), Bixente Otieno (Wazito);
Defenders: Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Tyson Omondi (Musingu High), Collins Shichenje (AFC Leopards), Boniface Onyango (Kariobangi Sharks), Alvin Ochieng (Kisumu All-Stars), Brian Wepo (Nzoia Sugar), Hassan Mwinyi (Ebwali High School), Mohammed Kazungu (St. Peters High School), Boniface Mwangemi (Dagoreti High School), Yussuf Boya (Sunflower Secondary), Arnold Onyango (Mathare United), Vincent Oluoch (St. Anthony Sec), John Otieno (Kakamega Homeboyz), Tom Teka (Kariobangi Sharks);
Midfielders: Joshua Nyatini (Wazito FC), Fidel Origa (Western Stima), Musa Masika (Wazito FC), John Njuguna (Ulinzi Stars), Peter Oudo (Kariobangi Sharks), Zablon Kutera (Dagoretti High), Nelson Amunga (Kisumu All-Stars), Steve Otieno (Kisumu All-Stars), Dedan Wafula Simiyu (Soy United), Stainer Musasia (FC Talanta), Keith Imbali (Gor Mahia Youth), Patrick Munyao (FC Talanta), Issa Lumumba (St. Anthony Sec), Richard Odada (Red Star Belgrade), Andre Kalama (Ligi Ndogo), Ben Stanley (Migori Youth), Clinton Okoth (Migori Youth);
Forwards: Selassie Otieno (Chemelil Sugar), Jacob Onyango (St. Anthony Sec), Benson Omala (Western Stima), Patrick Ngunyi (Kariobangi Sharks), Atem Kato (St. Peters High School), Chris Owino (FC Talanta), Derrick Omondi (Wazito) Ronald Shichenje (Aspire Academy)
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