Talanta Hela U19 football girls’ team ended their Easter holiday on a high after seeing off Real Zaragoza of Spain 3-0 in a friendly match played at the Nastic Training Ground on Sunday evening.The side which was fresh from claiming second place in the Costa Daurada Cup that concluded on Thursday entered the game on a high, keen to shine.Elizabeth Mideva’s brace and a goal from Hilda Natecho was enough to see the girls claim glory.Speaking after the match, the team’s coach Jackline Juma lauded her charges’ impressive performance, emphasizing the importance of high-intensity matches to the players. She noted that through the match, they knew what areas to improve on going forward.”Friendly matches help us to know where to strengthen our skills and when to maximize our strengths. At least this match gave me an overview of the team and know what areas to work on,” Juma said.The opponents’ coach Pablo Bovez also expressed pleasure in the level of talent in the country. He pointed out that given the right structures, the team could compete in the highest levels possible.”Kenya has a very good team with very quality players. They are very fast and they have good strikers like Lorna Faith and Elizabeth Mideva. I like them. The team can compete at a high level,” Bovez told Mozzart Sport.At the same time, Kenya Academy of Sports’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Doreen Odhiambo has lauded the Talanta Hela teams’ performance in the 15th edition of the Costa Daurada Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_7992403##The boys were crowned the winners after seeing off Usurbil FT 3-0 in the finals while the girls’ finished at second position after a 2-0 loss to Sporting de Portugal in a match that was decided on post-match penalties. The match ended 1-1 at regular time.The CEO noted that the academy was keen to expose the youngsters to more high-intensity matches and elite training camps to build a formidable team, even as the country gears up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).”This is just the first one. We will have more tournaments to gauge the readiness of the team. We will continue to scout more players. We also urge the players to train more to maintain their positions. We want to have a strong team for the upcoming African Championships,” Odhiambo offered.Harambee Stars defender Daniel Anyembe opens Viborg goal accountThe boys’ team are readying for a friendly match against Eldense slated for Monday 1 April.
