With Africa Youth Championships around the corner, Football Kenya must select teams early

Local football managers must identify the youth teams that will represent the country in the up-coming Africa Youth Championships early.

The national under-17 team will take on Somalia as their under -20 counterparts take on Eritrea.

Both matches are scheduled for next month.

However, it is surprising that with such a short time to go, Football Kenya Limited has neither named the team or a technical bench to handle the two sides ahead of the continental youth championships.

This delay is exposing the country to the possibility of doing poorly in both competitions. Besides, there are fears that over-age players may be included in the teams because of the short time to select a team.

We have always had a problem of player-selection and this even made the country to be suspended by CAF in 2003 for fielding over-age players in its competitions.

There are many players who fit in the required age group and there is no reason they cannot be included in the two squads but they have to be identified early and their ages ascertained before they take on their opponents.

Currently, the Copa Coca Cola tournament is going on and can provide a good selection forum for the two junior national football teams. We must make it a habit to prepare teams for major tournaments early.