Italian giants Inter to visit Kenya

Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan will visit Kenya next month once the current European season comes to an end.

As part of their visit, the Nerrazzuri will  play two friendly matches against Harambee Stars and against a Kenyan Premier League selects side. In a phone interview from Milan, a club source yesterday confirmed to Daily Nation Sport, that the club is indeed planning to visit Kenya.

“Yes, that information is true. The team will be visiting Kenya next month. However, I cannot give more information at this point in time,” our source said.

In Nairobi, Italian Liga-Pro general manager Fabrizio Lucchesi, who also doubles up as the Serie A representative also confirmed the impending visit of the Serie A side at a press briefing held at a city hotel.

Lucchesi said plans were in top gear to bring the Nerrazzuri to Nairobi once the curtain falls on the Serie A season on May 18.

“What we are doing is an expansion venture with an aim of building football partnerships with Kenya. Our long term objective is to foster relations between these two countries,” Lucchesi said.

HIGH PROFILE

Inter are currently placed fifth on the twenty-team log on 53 points with five matches to go.

Should the plan materialize, then Adel Amrouche’s Harambee Stars will be up against the 2010 Uefa Champions League winners in what would be a high profile match for the local lads.

Inter’s visit will also be a grand homecoming for Kenya international midfielder MacDonald Mariga.

Although he has not played for the national team since September 2010, Mariga remains Kenya’s most successful footballer of all time in the European circuits. Mariga was part of the Inter squad that bagged a treble in 2010 including the prestigious Uefa Champions League crown under then coach Jose Mourinho.

Meanwhile, the Italian Under 18 national team, which jetted into the country on Monday, will play against Kenya’s Under 20 team this evening from 6pm at the Nyayo National Stadium. The visiting team will conclude its tour in Kenya with a match against Gor Mahia’s Under 19 side on Friday at the same venue starting 3pm.

At the same time, Kenya has entered into a two-year agreement with apparel manufacturer Joma who will now officially kit all the Kenyan national football teams.

This means that Harambee Stars and all its junior sides will gain from the two year deal.

RICH HISTORY

Nerrazzuri fact box

• 18 Italian Seria A scudetto titles that Inter Milan has won

• 3 Uefa Champions League titles that Inter Milan has won

• 2010 When Kenya’s MacDonald Mariga joined the club

• 52 When Kenya’s MacDonald Mariga joined the club

• 1906 The year when Internazionale Milan was established