Kenya U23s head coach Ken Odhiambo believes the decision to field a young team in the upcoming COSAFA Cup was worth taking, and perfectly matched his mantra of taking chances.Odhiambo, a longtime assistant of Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat, was last week tasked with the job of leading the Emerging Stars in the Southern Africa tournament, which Kenya got an invite to, after Malawi withdrew their participation.”When I got the call to lead the team, it was a no-brainer,” Odhiambo spoke of his feeling in a new role. “As an ambitious coach, I believe in grabbing whatever opportunities come along the way, and that’s what I did. Take it, and leave the rest to God.” ##NAJAVA_MECA_8173396##In the senior championships set to kick off on Wednesday June 26, Kenya will use purely the Under 23 players, something that has been welcomed by Odhiambo, despite them being matched up against perennial champions Zambia, Zimbabwe and Comoros.Aldrine Kibet leaning on previous experiences ahead of COSAFA Cup involvement”This is a risk that we are taking but it’s worth it. Actually, this is what we’ve been waiting for,” Odhiambo said. “This has the potential to work both ways. One for us coaches and the new-look technical bench (including Bidco United coach Anthony Akhulia) to gain more exposure and experience, but also for the young players who have now been offered a platform to show what they are made of.”Despite playing against “full professionals” and nations stacked with international names, Odhiambo remains unfazed of the task ahead.”All we are doing now is normal across the board. We are graduating our young ones and I am sure we will go places working this way,” he said.On having any pressure for the assignment, he added: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. We move from the foundation to the roof. And at this moment, we are in the middle. We need take risks to complete the structure.”The 37-man squad is expected to be trimmed to 23, and will leave the country on Tuesday ahead of their first game against Zambia on June 27 at the NMB Stadium.
