Four Kenyans to join Airtel’s Man Utd Youth clinic in Dar

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Kenya will send four players to this year’s Africa Airtel and Manchester United Youth Soccer Clinic slated for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on April 23-27.

The clinic, to be conducted by coaches from Manchester United and will include 12 countries from the continent, is part of the Airtel Rising Stars football initiative run every year.

Kenyan players set to benefit from the clinic are Gerald John Oketch (Upper Hill School), Mwanahalima Adam Jereko (St John’s Kaloleni), Owuor Lily Awuor, (Olympic High) and Ibrahim Mohamed (Kathungi Secondary). The players were picked from the annual Airtel Rising Stars pan-African football programme held in Lagos, Nigeria, last year.

The programme provides a platform for upcoming talent under the age of 17 to showcase their skills to leading scouts, coaches and have an opportunity to further their football skills. The initiative targets boys and girls across the continent.

“It’s a kind gesture for Kenya, and the players are looking forward to taking their football skills to a whole new level,” said John Musonye, who will lead the team. The clinic, which will be held at the Chamazi Stadium, aims at nurturing the talents of Under 17 players who excelled during last year’s Inter-continental tournament held in Lagos, Nigeria, in which 12 African countries also participated.

Apart from Kenya, other countries that will send participants include Uganda, DRC, Malawi, Chad, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Zambia and Tanzania.

It will be conducted by coaches from the Manchester United Football schools and is expected to cover key areas of coaching such as passing, dribbling, and shooting and player discipline.

Commenting on the announcement, Airtel Africa’s Chief Marketing Officer, Andre Beyers, said: “We are extremely excited to be holding these clinics. The clinic in Tanzania will provide the opportunity for Africa’s future stars to interact with the club’s professional coaches who will impart crucial skills to the youngsters. This is part of Africa’s largest youth football development programme with over 400,000 boys and girls participating; 82 talented players have already been selected,” he said.