Under-20 camp waiting for only three players

Only three Kenya Under-20 football team players have yet to report to the residential training camp for the World Cup qualifying match against Egypt in Cairo on July 27.

National Youth Soccer Committee chairman Hussein Terry said on Tuesday Robenzi Mboya of Mathare United and Sofapaka’s Danson Kago were expected to report on Wednesday, having played their Kenyan Premier League match due on Wednesday.

Samusa Mburu was also due to arrive in the country from England.

The King Courts, Nairobi South ‘C’ camp already has 24 players and Terry said the final list of 18 would be named before the team departs for Cairo on July 23.

Training twice daily

The team is training twice daily – at 9am and 4pm – at Nyayo National Stadium under head coach Stanley Okumbi (Nairobi), who is assisted by Yahya Hassan (Coast) and George Ondula (Nyanza) and goalkeepers’ coach Abdul Iddi Salim.

Terry said plans are at an advanced stage to have the team play warm-up matches against yet-to-be-identified teams.

“We want the team to play one or two matches before departure for Cairo.”

Kenya U-20 players in camp –

Goalkeepers: Joel Bataro (Thuika United), Ryan Issa (Rangers), Said Dhaho (Magongo Rangers)

Defenders: Ali Juma Shabi (Coast United), Athman Mzee Matano (Chemelil), Islam Omar (Admiral), Geoffrey Shivaka (Kariobangi Sharks), Brian Kimshatwa (Kibera Celtics)

Midfielders: Tirus Omondi (Mathare United), Mohamed Kassim (Chemelil), Pachila Omoto, Vincent Odongo (Kariobangi), David Kingatwa (City Stars), Vonus Isuza (Nairobi Stima), Mohamed Noor (Mashariki), Kennedy Otieno (Nakuru All Stars)

Strikers: Enock Agwanda (Sony Sugar), Timothy Otieno (Nyanza), Alphonce Ndunyi, Wandera (Kakamega), Miutash Izungu (Sparki Youth)