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Kenya U20 coach Salim Babu feels his team can secure the Four Nations tournament title but expects a very physical encounter in Malawi.
Kenya U20 coach Salim Babu believes his side are in good shape to go all the way and win the Four Nations tournament.
Rising Stars, as the team are called, have been in camp for the last one week preparing for the event, set to take place in Malawi from March 18-26 with players from local and foreign-based sides.
Among them are 12 who competed in the 2023 CECAFA U18 Boys Championships, which Kenya reached the final before losing to Uganda, and Babu is confident that their preparations will yield positive results.
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“We have prepared well since we started training on Monday so we have had a full week and the boys are ready,” said Babu.
“They are good, they were already training in their teams so it is just a continuation and they are all ready and we are just waiting for the departure.”
Babu lauded Football Kenya Federation for roping the youngsters into the tournament, which will also see the senior side Harambee Stars feature, as he believes it will spur them to greater heights.
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“It is good because it is giving these boys motivation, even those who will not make it will be encouraged to know that if you train well, you will get an opportunity to play against good teams,” added Babu.
“These are not small games and chances like these come rarely so I hope they use their opportunities well. As a country, we have made a step by having such matches for the youngsters.”
Rising Stars will begin their campaign against hosts Malawi on March 21 at the Bingu National Stadium with the winner of the match taking on either Zambia or Zimbabwe in the final.
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Babu is wary of the physicality of the South African teams but is confident his team will devise a way to overcome them.
“We feel we are going to win, we have players with Premier League experience and if you look at those teams, they are normally very physical so we are prepared for such games,” said the Kenya Police boss.
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