ROAD TO ENGLAND: Kenyan players to play Hull City selected

Gor Mahia FC's Eric Ouma dribble ball past Johanas Eric of Mathare FC at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, Oct 30, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH NYANGO/STANDARD]

A total of 47 players from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) have been selected to take on English side Hull City next year.

Scouts from the English side picked the players following a countrywide selection exercise that involved all the 16 KPL sides.

The coaches attended a number of matches, training sessions as well as two friendly matches by the national team Harambee Stars against Liberia and Mozambique.

A final team of 16 players will be selected before the AllStars team heads to England to take on Hull City FC in February.

The team of 47 has some of the outstanding players in the just concluded season with Gor Mahia defender Eric Ouma among those picked for the Hull City experience. Top scorer John Makwata of Ulinzi Stars has also been included in the team. Sony Sugar teenager Joshua Otieno is the youngest player in the squad. He has been a revelation in the just concluded season.

According to Ronald Karauri the Chief Executive Officer for SportPesa, the project is part of his company’s effort in helping Harambee Stars take part in the 2022 Word Cup.

 TRULY UNIQUE

“SportPesa All Stars are the beginning of Kenya’s journey to qualification for the World Cup in 2022 and we look forward to the two matches they will play against Hull City,” he said.

Tigers Commercial Manager Simon King added: “SportPesa All Stars project is truly unique. It fully demonstrates that our partnership with SportPesa goes way beyond a branding exercise and is something that is having a positive impact in developing Kenyan football.