Search for four to train with Man United

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has been in Nairobi this week.

On Tuesday, he was at Upper Hill High School to launch the Airtel Rising Stars football talent search worth Sh10.5 million.

There were minimal hitches, such as people not adhering to the time stated; people started arriving at 12pm for a function that was set to begin at 11am.

Cole watched a match at the school, met Upper Hill’s football team, ate the Kenyan delicacies and attended Churchill Live’s hilarious comedy show at the Carnivore. But the former striker will remember mainly the heroic welcome he received.

“It was quite a fete to get such a reception. It feels great to be in Kenya and launch this noble programme and watch as young kids prove their talent,” said the 39-year old. “I’m totally humbled.”

The talent seeks to give hundreds of youths across East Africa an opportunity to identify and develop their soccer careers and talents through organised play.

Dubbed Airtel Rising Stars, the programme will see four talented young Kenyans have an opportunity to train with the Manchester United Academy.

Cole is hoping the talent search programme will unearth a new generation of African footballers.

“Players like Didier Drogba and Michael Essien at Chelsea, Emmanuel Adebayor, Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure are shining lights for

youngsters,” he added. “They are inspirational.

“I would like to see Kenya produce players like them. I’m certainly going to help develop the Kenyan kids because they have the talent,” said the former player who thinks Barcelona have put the yardstick down for everyone to try and catch them.

Handshake

“I have come here to help the kids.

That’s the most important, to give them skills and inspiration of becoming important people, not only in football, but in life as they make a debut in professional football,” added Cole, for whom a handshake means a lot.

A handshake or, rather, the lack of one, is the genesis of hatred between Cole and former United player, Teddy Sheringham, who haven’t spoken a word for 15 unforgiving years.

Forget the fallout between deposed England skipper John Terry and Wayne Bridge, his former Chelsea team-mate. This feud erupted between two strikers who played in the same Manchester United team for four seasons and shared 54 goals.

During that time, not a single word was exchanged between them — despite both men playing a part in United’s 1999 Treble glory.

Cole recalls the moment he was about to make his international debut against Uruguay like it happened yesterday.

He was frightened, 70 minutes were on the clock, and the least he expected was a customary handshake as he replaced the Spurs legend.
But no hand was offered, leaving Cole stunned.

“I walk on to the pitch, 60,000 or so watching and expected a brief handshake, a ‘Good luck, Coley’, something. I’m ready to shake.

He snubs me. He actively snubs me,” said the former player.