NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26- The 16 players selected to represent Kenya from the 2013 Copa Coca-Cola are gearing up for the September 8 trip to South Africa where they will face 14 other nations in a one-week tournament.
Golden boot winner Musa Masika, John Ochieng, John Ronaldo, Llloyd Kim, and Edwin Okoth all from champions JMJ, Joseph Bwire, Patrick Ochieng, Ibrahim Ochieng and Ian Samuel from Kisumu Lakers as well as Gunners trio Zadock Ombewa, Joseph Luchenga and Richard Otuomo are in the squad.
Nathaniel Kadenge, Hassan Ali, Hilton Isutsa and Western’s Murhanda Boys player Elphas Shiveka are also in the line-up.
“I am looking forward to travelling to South Africa after I missed out in the previous edition. I am glad I got this opportunity and am sure we will do better than last year when our U17 team finished 4th overall,” a confident Masika said Monday.
The team will depart for the one-week trip where they will clash with 14 other teams from across Africa and debutants Kazakhstan.
Defending champions Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Congo and Rwanda as well as the hosts have been drawn to contest the continental tourney.
Defending champions Rwanda, Zimbabwe, DRC, and Congo will also grace the 2013 event where the players will receive first-class training from Chelsea FC coaches.
On Monday, the Copa squad toured Nairobi Bottlers plant after paying a courtesy call to the company’s Managing Director Patrick Pech.
“It’s been a good competition this year and I believe these boys will do the country proud during the championships in South Africa,” said Pech.
“We have had one of the best national championships and we saw real talent among these budding talents. As the host bottler, I am glad both the girls’ and boys’ titles remained in my territory,” he added.