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Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will stage its first ever National Under 13 Championship at the Nakuru Athletic Club on April 29.
The Championship slated over the weekend will see a provisional squad of 34 players picked to represented the country in an international event that will go down in Southampton, England come August.
The tournament will feature six teams with players drawn from different regions in the country.
The championship that will run on April 28 and 29 is a culmination of the 2016 FKF Under 13 leagues played in 43 Sub-Branches that attracted 16,789 players drawn from 1,348 clubs.
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The teams have been divided into Nairobi, Nyanza and Rift Valley who make Group A and Western, Coast and Central in Group B with the federation planning to make the event an annual affair that will lay the foundation for selection of the Under 13 team to represent Kenya at international tournaments.
Read Also: FKF to use the U13 championships to select squad for Southampton Cup
Nairobi will open the tournament with a clash against Nyanza in Group A as Western take on Coast in Group B with each half lasting 25 minutes with a 10 given for the break.
The semi-finals featuring the winners in Group A and runner-up in Group B; winners Group B vs runner-up in Group B will be played on Saturday at 3pm local time (+3GMT).
“As a federation, it is our belief that this venture will not only provide the much-needed platform to expose our young players to international football but will also aid in their development and the long-term success of the sport,” read the Statement
Coaches
Coaches will select three players in each outfield positions and four goalkeepers in the provisional squad.
“The initiative, a first in the history of Kenyan football, has also made it possible for the federation to create the much-needed player passports, key in not only abating age cheating but also ensuring that clubs benefit from training, solidarity and transfer fees,” a statement signed by FKF Communications boss Barry Otieno on Thursday (April 27) read.
FKF boss Nick Mwendwa will be the chief guest at the tournament with the communication adding that the federation has managed to register and create passports for 18,000 players that participated in the 2016 FKF U13/U15 leagues.
The numbers are set to increase this year, with the roll-out of the 2017 FKF U13/U15 leagues registration.
The Under 13 championship was officially launched on April 10, by the FKF president, saying it will help to track the players record from a tender age.