Residents of Busia County are gearing up for a nerve-wracking day as the Cabinet Secretary exhibition games take center stage at the Siagonjo Grounds from 10 am.These games will aim to test the skills of the selected U19 dream team following the conclusion of a successful inaugural Talanta Hela U19 football tournament whose curtains rolled down on December 12.Harambee Junior Stars will play against Busia Elites while Rising Starlets take on Busia Elite Starlets.##NAJAVA_MECA_7769588##The decorated games will also serve a pivotal role in assessing the cohesion and teamwork among the young talents who have undergone intensive training together. The event will be graced by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) in charge of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Mr. Ababu Namwamba, and other dignitaries.The matches will be curtain-raised by the final of the Ababu Namwamba Foundation (ANF) County Football Tournament which was postponed due to the heavy rains in the region.FC Mayatos will take on Funyula FC before paving the way for the day’s main business.In an exclusive with Mozzart Sport ahead of the much-anticipated matches, CS Namwamba was glad that his dream was coming to fruition.The youthful CS envisioned a day when the teams reflecting the true face of Kenya would be identified fairly, openly, and competitively from the grassroots across the length and breadth of the country. The teams include talented youngsters from as far as Todonyang in the Northern part of Kenya to lesser-known towns like Bamba.Talanta Hela U17 and U20 teams unveiled, plans towards ‘football renaissance’ underwayIt is also in alignment with CS Namwamba’s vision of fostering a thriving sports culture and ensuring that talents can be transformed into lucrative opportunities.”I am delighted that what was a far-fetched dream is finally actualizing. This is what we have been working hard for; the development of football from the bottom up. The team is big, and this tournament will enable us to pick the best of the best,” the eloquent CS offered.He stressed that the success of the event was a potent indication of the nation’s capacity to develop a strong pool of football talents. With the country set to be among the hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), CS Namwamba was confident that Kenya would produce a fine-tuned team for the challenge.”This is huge for the future of football in the country. On day one in office, I announced that for Kenya to get to the high table of global football, there is only one route; investing in youth and grassroots football, essentially from the bottom up. We designed this tournament to allow every Kenyan child to be seen and express themselves,” he averred.In a bid to further strengthen the team, the team will take part in the Mediterranean International Camp (MIC) Football tournament – an International Young Football Tournament Camp in Spain come March.The MIC Football tournament, as their portal reads, is an international youth football tournament that brings to Costa Brava some of the best academies in the world.Kalekwa hails ‘Zico’s appointment, unhappy with some players
