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| Nairobi Bottlers MD Patrick Pech (right) presents Musa Masika and Edwin Okoth with football as Ampher Apidi, Experiential Marketing Manager, looks on at the Embakasi Bottling plant. |
By ERICK OCHIENG’
Kenya has selected a ‘Dream team’ for the Copa Coca Cola U15 continental challenge, which kicks off on Sunday in South Africa.
Golden boot winner Musa Masika is among the high profile players who made it to the national squad.
Others are John Ochieng’, John Ronaldo, Lloyd Kim, and Edwin Okoth all from champions JMJ, Joseph Bwire, Patrick Ochieng, Ibrahim Ochieng and Ian Samuel from Kisumu Lakers as well as Gunners trio Zadock Ombewa, Joseph Luchenga and Richard Otuomo, Nathaniel Kadenge, Hassan Ali, Hilton Isutsa and Elphas Shiveka.
The team that departs on September 8 to South Africa will clash with 14 other teams from across Africa as well as with debutants Kazakhstan in the one-week contest.
Other countries participating include North Africa’s Algeria and Egypt, hosts’ South Africa as well as East Africa’s Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, defending champions Rwanda, Zimbabwe, DRC, and Congo. The players will receive quality training from Chelsea FC coaches.
“I am looking forward to travelling to South Africa after I missed out in the previous edition,” said Masika.
Nairobi-based JMJ Academy and Otto Benecker won the national title after beating Kisumu Lakers and Beijing Girls in the boys’ and girls’ final at City Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday.
Otto Benecker edged out Nairobi rivals, Beijing Girls 1-0 in the final, while JMJ scored 3-1 against Kisumu Lakers to win the boys title.
Otto Benecker and JMJ won Sh500,000 each while Beijing and Kisumu pocketed Sh200,000 each.
The Gunners and Murhanda who took boys and girls third place took home Sh100,000 each.
