Copa Coca Cola News

By Erick Ochieng’/The Standard Group

Nairobi maintained unbeaten record to sail to the finals of Copa Coca Cola U-17championship when they thrashed Kakamega 3-0 at Coca Cola Stadium Thursday.

Fredrick Odhiambo of Nairobi was by yesterday celebrating his goal-keeping prowess as the only custodian yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

But Kakamega’s goalkeeper Ian Owiti easily allowed three goals that forced his team to settle for third-fourth place play-off.

Emmanuel Toastao, who scored a brace in the match to accumulate his goals to 10, toppled compatriot Daniel Mwaura, who has nine, from the golden boot race.

All eyes are now on the two in the final over who will clinch the coveted title whose package comes with good cash.

Mwaura opened the score sheet for Nairobi in the 16th minute when he drilled in a Toastao right cross to displaced indecisive Owiti the wrong way to put the scores 1-0 at break time.

Nairobi returned an energetic lot, with Tostao, who left many scoring chances went begging in the first half, taking full control of chances availed to him.

He headed in a Reuben Munyau right corner kick in the 47th minute before looping the ball in the yawning nets in the 51st when Owiti went shopping in the midfield to seal Kakamega’s fate.

Kakamega’s coach Stephen Shivachi was positive: "It was a great honour to play the Copa Coca Cola event.

Kisumu lost 4-2 to Bungoma on penalties after tieing 2-2 on regulation time.

Kisumu will thus meet Kakamega for third-fourth place play-off as Nairobi take on Bungoma in the final tomorrow.

The final stretch of the two-week Copa Coca Cola tournament strated in Nairobi on Friday. The winners get Sh500,000, second-placed Sh250,000 and third-placed Sh150,000.


What next after the Copa Coca Cola?

By Kandanda

The second edition of the Copa Coca Cola national under 17 soccer championship has been going on at the Coca Cola Stadium over this past week. It has witnessed brilliant footballing displays from across the country. Non traditional soccer regions such as Meru and Garissa have acquitted themselves quit well, getting to the knockout stages of the tournament which concludes this weekend.

Information out in the public domain reveals that a "Dream Team" will be selected at the end of this tournament to represent Kenya at an international youth soccer festival to be held in South Africa in 2010. What will happen to the "Dream Team" once they participate in the festival? Is this the only motivation for the boys?

While I write this article from a totally uninformed position, I do believe that there are one or two pertinent issues for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and Football Kenya (FK) to look at.

For starters, how about retaining this team as standing national team for the particular age group (under 17) and probably have the whole lot progress to the next age group before breaking into the senior national side?

The KPL and FK will have to work together to ensure that talent can not be simply allowed to go to waste. We have had too many talented players fall through the cracks due to the football authorities failure to follow up on their progress.

Keeping the team together is one thing, keeping them busy is another thing. This way they will gather the much needed experience and exposure that will keep them competitive for years to come. It will ensure that Kenya is able to spot players with the talents of Dennis Oliec for years to come, ensuring a steady supply of quality players who would in turn boost the national teams performances over a longer period of time. Achieving this is not rocket science, with the right approaches it can be done.

The ball is in the court of the dons at the KPL and FK.