After an action-packed two-week journey, the Talanta Hela U19 boys’ and girls’ teams are preparing to bid farewell to their memorable Spain tour.Throughout their stay, the teams immersed themselves in several activities including tournaments, elite training camps, and recovery training sessions.##NAJAVA_MECA_8002281##The team performed well in the 15th edition of the Costa Daurada Cup, which concluded on Thursday, March 28. The boys won the tournament by defeating Usurbil FT 3-0 in the final, while the girls secured second place after losing 2-0 to Sporting de Portugal in a match that was decided by post-match penalties.Following that, they competed in two friendly matches each. The boys played their opening match against CD Castellón, where they suffered a 5-1 defeat before bouncing back to win against Spanish side Eldense FC with a score of 4-2 in the final match.On the other hand, the girls claimed victories in all their friendlies. They defeated Real Zaragoza 3-0 before dominating Calafell FC with a score of 5-0 in a match witnessed by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport after the match, the CS noted that with the heightened level of competition across the world, there was a need to expose the youngsters to diverse high-level competitions. He underscored the pivotal role played by such competitions in nurturing talent within any given team.”All sporting disciplines have become highly competitive, scientific, and cross-border. Exposure to different levels and competitions helps to enhance the talent within any given team. As Kenya, we must do two things that successful nations have always done,” the CS began.FKFPL and NSL clubs risk relegation over club licensing non-compliance – Nick MwendwaHe continued, “One is to invest in a deliberate, intentional, and structured pipeline anchored on a bottom-up development plan for youth football, and expose those talents to high-level competitions.”With the Spanish tour now concluding, the CS noted that they were leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the youths are pushed to greater heights. He further hinted at hosting such competitions in the country.”We plan to organize more tournaments and exchange programs. I would love a situation where different youth teams from around the world come to compete in Kenya, allowing Kenyans to watch their youngsters up close. Every opportunity we get for any competition, we will push our youths to participate,” he explained.The CS also emphasized that the goal was not only to strengthen the national teams but also to contribute to international leagues. For instance, a player like Stanley Wilson was scouted after the CECAFA tournament and is now playing for AIK in Sweden.”The journey towards competitive football at the highest level is already underway. But transitions must also be facilitated at other levels. We are looking at top-level competitions in leagues beyond Kenya. We will create more opportunities within Africa and beyond to give our youths exposure,” he concluded.The youngsters are expected to return to the country on Wednesday, April 3, at 11:50 PM.Joseph Okumu lands multiple accolades in France
