The Kenyan government has pledged to provide top-tier training for the national Under-20 men’s football team, ahead of their debut in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Under-20 finals. Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement during a breakfast event for the Rising Stars held at Talanta Plaza in Nairobi.
During the event, Murkomen awarded the team KES 1.8 million for their impressive performance at the Cecafa U-20 regional qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, where they finished second to Tanzania. Both teams have qualified for the Afcon U-20 tournament scheduled for early next year.
“We will support you in your preparations for the Afcon U-20. We have received requests for a training camp abroad, and we will facilitate that. Additionally, we will arrange friendly matches with more competitive teams,” Murkomen stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to the team’s success. He further urged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to manage the budget for these activities prudently.
Murkomen emphasized the importance of integrating the Rising Stars into the senior national team, Harambee Stars, highlighting their potential as the future of Kenyan football. “The impact of young talents is evident. There is no reason why our coach (Engin Firat) should not start integrating these players into the senior team,” he said.
In addition to sports support, Murkomen revealed that the Ministry of Sports will help the players secure education scholarships from institutions that recognize their athletic talents.
The CS also shared plans to revamp the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), directing them to focus on school sports and youth talents between the ages of eight and 18. He tasked KAS with adopting modern technology for player scouting, saying, “We cannot rely on analog methods to scout talent. I have instructed KAS to propose the latest technology to help our country identify the best talents.”
