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Olunga has sent a motivational message to the Kenya U20 side Rising Stars, revealing details of his conversation with the side during their journey to Malawi.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has sent the U20 side Rising Stars players a message of motivation as they continue taking part in the Malawi Four Nations tournament.
The side are taking part in the tournament for the first time alongside the senior team, with the aim helping them gain international experience at a young age.
Olunga has taken an active role to motivate them, and was seen talking to the side when they jetted out to Malawi on Wednesday morning, and has expressed excitement, describing them as players who will help the national team in future tournaments.
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“It is a good preparation for them because they are the future,” Olunga said.
“I was telling them that it is possible to make it to the senior team. We were in the same flight. Some of them were traveling alongside their idols and now they will play with us on the same pitch.”
Olunga is happy that most of the players that were part of the side that reached the final of the CECAFA U18 championship last December are part of the side, which he believes could give them a sense of continuity when future tournaments, including the CECAFA U20, AFCON U20 and potentially the U20 World Cup come up.
“It is good to see that most of these players who were part of the U18 side have been included in the U20," he added.
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“We hope they can showcase their skills at this tournament to earn a call up to the first team eventually or even get scouted by foreign clubs.”
Olunga hopes some players will have matured well in time to help the senior team do well at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will partly be hosted in Kenya.
“It is a good motivation from them. I advise them to keep competing. The future is bright considering we will be hosting the 2027 AFCON as well as other competitions coming up. We hope some of them will be there.”
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