SportPesa all-stars camp trimmed ahead of Hull trip
Twelve players have been dropped from the SportPesa all-stars team that will play against English Premier League Hull City next month.
The 12 players were axed on Saturday from training camp after six days of rigorous training and assessments by coaches from the English club.
The squad, which initially comprised of 47 players drawn from the SportPesa Premier League teams, will be trimmed further for a final team of 18 players who will travel to the UK for a historic friendly match scheduled for February 27. The final team is set to be announced next Saturday in Nairobi.
Terry Boyle, a professional development phase coach at Hull City and Dean Windass, a Hull City legend who scored 77 goals for the club, were in charge of the first week of training and the selection.
“I have enjoyed what we have been doing together and I believe from here it will not be the last time for players who have been dropped,” said team manager Neville Pudo.
DROPPED PLAYERS
Harambee Stars head coach, Stanley Okumbi, who joined the camp on Friday, will reinforce coaching of the Kenyan side.
Addressing the players during the team selection on Saturday, Windass, who had never visited Kenya before this project, said he was pleasantly surprised by the level of talent and skill exhibited by local players during the training sessions.
SportPesa’s CEO Ronald Karauri has thanked the players for taking part in the all-stars project assuring them that they will get more chances to exhibit and polish their skills through the company’s various football development initiatives with its EPL partners.
Those dropped from the team include Ali Bai, Charles Momanyi (both Kakamega Homeboyz), Calvin Odongo, Georson Likono (both Posta Rangers), Edwin Omondi (Chemelil Sugar), Gabriel Andika (AFC Leopards), Paul Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Rodgers Omondi, Michael Otieno (both Ulinzi Stars), Dennis Monda (Muhoroni Youth), Brian Marita and Estone Esiye (both Western Stima).
