The search for the eight under 19-football teams that will play during the Jamhuri Day Cup on December 12, has started in Nyeri County.
A total of 21 football teams from 18 counties on Thursday converged at the Moi Complex Primary School for day one of the Talanta Hela tournaments which will culminate on November 22.
According to James Theuri,a Talent development officer at the Kenya Academy of Sports, this second stage of the football competition has brought together teams from 12 regions nationwide that clinched second position during the first stage of the games that took place in August this year.
“From these teams, we have a total of 10 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams that will play in a league of five teams each. The games will be played on the first five days on the 6th day (November 21) the semi-finals and on the 7th day which is November 22, the finals will be played,” said Theuri.
The first round of the playoffs produced 24 teams comprising 12 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams which directly qualified for the national round. Theuri said that during this second round, they are hoping to pick eight top teams to form part of the 32 teams which will participate in the final round that will kick off on December 3 in Nairobi county.
“From this whole tournament we are going to pick the best four from each category; four for boys and four for girls to join the 12 teams that were already selected after the August tournament and the number will come to 16 teams for boys and 16 teams for girls playing in that tournament and the best teams will play in the finals,” stated Theuri.
The matches, Theuri said will be officiated by Football Kenya Federation referees to ensure the highest levels of sportsmanship are upheld during the five days of the tournament.
The morning fixtures brought together the Kwale County boys team against Mandera County and ended with a 2-0 win for Mandera while the match between the Kakamega County boys team beat the Homabay boys team ended in a 2-0 win for Homabay.
In the girls’ category, the Migori county team braved the chilly weather to beat the Marsabit county team 4-1 by the end of the first half.
On Friday, Marsabit County boys will face the Busia County boys team at 9:30 am while the Machakos County girls team will play against the Mombasa County girls team.
By Wangari Mwangi
