SportPesa is hosting two world-class coaches from Hull City Football Club in Kenya for a two week scouting and selection mission ahead of the first ever football match between a Premier League team and an African side to be played in February 2017. The coaches jetted into the country from 4th and will stay until 20th November.
They will attend league, national matches and training sessions to select 50 players from the 16 Kenya Premier League teams that will later on head for a training camp in January 2017. A squad of 16 players dubbed “SportPesa All Stars” will be selected to face a Hull City side in the United Kingdom and in a return leg on Kenyan soil. This is in the company’s commitment to develop Kenya’s football to global standards and as part of its campaign towards having Kenya compete in the World Cup for the first time in 2022. SportPesa is Hulll City sponsor.
SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri was thrilled that the ground breaking journey to develop skills amongst football players in the country is taking shape. “SportPesa All Stars’ will be flying Kenya’s and indeed Africa’s flag when they play Hull City and we are certain that the best players will be selected for the training camp and the squad,” added Mr Karauri.
Among fixtures the Hull City coaches attended include last Sunday’s all important match between league leaders Tusker and AFC Leopards in Nakuru, Kenya’s two friendlies between Mozambique and Liberia, training sessions with Ulinzi Stars, Muhoroni Youth, Chemilil, Thika United, Ushuru FC, Bandari among others and the season’s grand finale pitting Gor Mahia and Tusker at the Nyayo Stadium.
“We hope to be fully immersed into Kenya’s football scene during our scouting and selection period, exchange ideas with coaches and players, interact with football fans and eventually select a formidable team to face Hull City,” said Head Professional Development Coach, Richard Naylor.
The coaches will work closely with the Kenya Premier League counterparts, the Football Kenya Federation and other football stakeholders in selecting Kenya’s top talent.
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