Southampton FC training camp for Kenya’s Developmental Sides comes to a close

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The Southampton FC training camp for Kenya’s Developmental Sides closed today with the visiting coaches exuding confidence that the players will excel in football.

The training, which was the first by Southampton in Kenya, involved 30 players from various Football Kenya Federation (FKF)’s Developmental sides.

“There is certainly potential here because we can see the huge improvement they have made in a week,” Southampton’s Lead Youth Development Phase Coach, Daniel Maye said.

Maye and his colleagues from England introduced the youngsters to the Southampton Way that has seen the English Premier League side identified as one of the most respected production lines of international talent in world football.

The initiative that was sponsored by leading gaming firm SportPesa benefitted among others, striker Zidane Ochieng and midfielder Joshua Otieno, who are tipped as the next big stars in local football.

“Although training was hard, I have learned a lot more than I get during training sessions in the estate. It is not what we are normally taken through,” said Ochieng, who was crowned the SportPesa Super 8 Most Promising Player in 2016.

The St Patrick’s Secondary School student wants to be like the star he was named after, Zinedine Zidane, the coach Real Madrid CF.

His sentiments were echoed by Evans Odhiambo who plays for Kakamega High School.
“This is the best training  I have ever experienced so far. We were taught new running patterns and how to play in a different style which is more than the football basics we are used to here," Odhiambo said.

Joshua Otieno, the promising midfielder from Sony Sugar who featured in the match between Kenya's SportPesa All Stars a select side from EPL side Hull City at KCOM Stadium, was also part of the developmental side.

The local youngsters were left yearning for more as they got a glimpse into the kind of training that has turned the likes of Gareth Bale (Madrid), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton/England), Theo Walcott (Arsenal FC/England), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal /England), Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton FC/France) and Adam Lallana (Liverpool FC/England) into recognised internationals.

SportPesa CEO, Ronald Karauri praised the players for their dedication adding that the company was exploiting all available channels to expose them to as many growth opportunities as possible.

“We shall continue to leverage on our global partnerships to grow sports in Kenya and in particular ensure that our talented and passionate sportsmen are motivated and given chances to showcase their prowess in the various games they specialise in,” he said.

“We are very grateful to SportPesa, not for the first time, for leveraging on their overseas partnership to provide sustainable football development for local players and coaches,” FKF Chief Executive Robert Muthomi said.