Luanda Villa head coach Gilbert Selebwa has called on his Harambee Stars counterpart Engin Firat to be bold and focus on building his team around young players.The former AFC Leopards coach urged Firat to learn from the late German tactician Reinhardt Fabisch who had three separate stints as the Harambee Stars head coach that started back in 1987.Under Fabisch, Kenya assembled one of its youngest and most promising squads to face the then-Olympic champions, Nigeria.##NAJAVA_MECA_8457034##This was no easy feat, especially for young players with limited experience competing against some of the finest stars on the continent, including Celestine Babayaro, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, and other top Nigerian football talents.However, the Kenyan team rose to the occasion, impressing fans with a spectacular performance at Kasarani Stadium.One standout player at the time was left-footed midfielder Ken Simiyu (RIP) from Nzoia, a student at Kenya’s football powerhouse Chesamisi High School in Bungoma.##NAJAVA_MECA_8457039##Simiyu scored Kenya’s goal with a superb header just twenty minutes in, and though the Super Eagles later equalized, the draw was a significant boost for Kenyan football.”The coach (Firat) fears taking risks. Look at Fabisch—he went to the villages to find talent, and we saw the performance,” Selebwa told Mozzart Sport. “There is untapped talent out here that, with a little motivation, could perform if given the chance.”Thirteen dropped as Harambee Stars squad for South Sudan return leg is namedSelebwa’s comments come just days before Harambee Stars’ return leg against South Sudan in Uganda on Sunday.After losing the first leg 2-0 in Juba, Firat has made several changes to the team, dropping thirteen players and adding eleven new ones.However, none of the new players were drawn from lower leagues, including the National Super League (NSL), which often acts as a feeder to the top league.NSL: Reasons for Migori Youth’s tough start to the seasonSelebwa believes that giving young players a chance often pays off, as they are eager to prove themselves at the highest level, unlike seasoned pros who may have less to gain.”Players in top leagues across Africa and Europe have nothing to prove, but a player from grassroots or school games has everything to prove,” noted the former Kiendege Jets coach. “Add the small allowances they receive in camp, and they are even more motivated.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8457019##Selebwa likened some national team coaches to world-renowned managers like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, who prefer ready-made players over developing new talent.”Our national team coaches don’t thrive where they need to develop talent; they act like Pep, Mourinho, and the like, looking for ready players,” he said.As a KPL Under-20 finalist with Kakamega Homeboyz in 2016, Selebwa highlighted that Kenya should start building its team around the Under-18 and Under-20 squads.Charles Okere keeps FKFPL title hopes alive despite Tusker’s shaky startRecently, the Rising Stars made history by qualifying for Kenya’s first-ever appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 tournament set for Morocco next year.
