The National U23 Football team famously known as the Emerging Stars on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, jetted out of the Country to Tashkent, Uzbekistan ahead of a two-legged friendly against the hosts.
The squad led by Mathare United FC head Coach Francis Kimanzi and former Thika United coach John Kamau, is largely made up of players drawn from the Kenya Premier League (KPL) clubs.
The first match will be played on Thursday, March 22, while the return match will be played on Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Uzbekistan.Kenya has enrolled to take part in the 2020 Olympics games in Tokyo Japan.
The matches against Uzbekistan will be the first among a series of friendlies the team will feature in, in preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers.Here is the full squad of the National U23 team that left for Uzbekistan:
Goalkeepers
Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars), Job Ochieng (Mathare United)
Defenders
Mike Kibwage (AFC Leopards), Joseph Okumu (Unattached), Amai Atariza (Bandari), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), Bolton Omwenga (Kariobangi Sharks), David Owino (Mathare United)
Midfielders
Teddy Osok (Sofapaka), Sven Yidah (Kariobangi Sharks), Siraj Mohammed (Bandari), Chrispinus Onyango (KCB), Abdalla Ahmed (Mathare United), Ibrahim Shambi (Ulinzi Stars), James Mazembe (Kariobangi Sharks), Henry Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Cliff Kasuti (Ulinzi Stars)
Strikers
Pistone Mutamba (Wazito), Jafari Owiti (AFC Leopards), Brian Yator (KCB), Nicholas Kipkirui (Zoo Kericho), Daniel Okoth Otieno (Sony Sugar)