Emerging Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi has explained the importance of featuring at the U23 stage for the national team ahead of the teams trip to Ethiopia for the CECAFA U23 tourney.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Okumbi said that the U23 is the stage closest to the national team, thus it is very crucial for players to feature at that stage, adding that he has tried to ensure that there is progression in the squad from previous stages.”Some of the players in camp have been in the U20 squad, if you look closely there is a progression that is there from U17, to U20, to U23. If they miss at U23 it will take them long before they get to the senior team. U23 is very close to the senior team and it is very important,” Okumbi said,”Some coaches feel that it is a very good platform that will offer exposure to their players which is a very good thing. Other coaches feel that their players deserve to be in the senior team but it is good that they pass through the U23 stage on their way to the senior team,” the gaffer added. The regional showpiece set aside for players under the age of 23 years with only three senior players was set to kick off on this Sunday, 3rd July in the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar but has been rescheduled to start on July 17 due to covid-related issues, according to a statement by the organizers.⚽️| New dates released for upcoming CECAFA U23 tournament that is set for Ethiopia#Cecafa #EmergingStars https://t.co/JZzXx1D1cc— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) June 28, 2021 Okumbi has welcomed the postponement saying that it could be a chance for the Emerging Stars to be in full strength as he hopes clubs in the league will not be hesitant in releasing a number of their young talented players as the crucial and most demanding dates in the league and cup will have passed.The tournament will see a total of thirteen teams battle for the crown – Kenya, Uganda who are the defending champions, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Djibouti, Tanzania, Zanzibar, DR Congo who are making a guest appearance, and Rwanda. Sudan and Somalia are yet to confirm their participation.
