Over 50 players turn up for national U18 girls' team selection

Corazone Acquino (L) and Lydia Oganda train during an Open Media session with Harambee Starlets last year. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

More than 50 players had an opportunity to audition for a place in the national U18 girls' team on Friday at the Stima Club grounds, Nairobi.

The selection exercise, which is the first of a series of trials lined up in different parts of the country, is aimed at forming a formidable team that will feature in the upcoming CECAFA U18 Women's Championships on June 24, 2023 in Nairobi.

Head coach Beldine Odemba told Football Kenya Federation (FKF) media she is looking forward to selecting a strong team that will make Kenya proud in the tournament.

"Youth and women's football remain key on our agenda at FKF," said coach Odemba.

"It is for this reason that we are assessing these players with a view of creating a strong team that can compete at international level."

While thanking the players who took the time to turn out for the selection exercise, the coach also noted that the junior team was key in sustaining success at the senior level.

"This team is a conveyor belt of talent to the senior team. If we can keep them actively competing, then we can sustain positive results at the senior level," said Odemba.

More selection sessions have been lined up tomorrow at the Butere Girls School in Western region, Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Nyanza region and the Shanzu TTC Grounds in Mombasa.