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KAK
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Rising Stars coach has urged Kenya to act fast in order to help secure the future of breakout stars who have been linked with moves abroad.
Kenya’s U20 national football team, the Rising Stars, may have bowed out early in their debut U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, but their spirited performance left a lasting impression.
Despite being drawn into a challenging group with African heavyweights Nigeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, the Kenyan youngsters managed to hold their own, with several players catching the eyes of international scouts.
Standout names such as midfielder Kevin Wangaya, defender Baron Ochieng, Nastic Academy’s Aldrine Kibet, and Hassan Beja have all been linked with potential moves abroad.
Rising Stars coach Anthony Akhulia has now emphasized the need for Kenya to act decisively if the country is to safeguard the future of these promising talents.
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According to Akhulia, the Rising Stars were tactically and technically on par with their opponents.
However, one critical gap remained, the Kenyan youngsters' physical conditioning.
Akhulia revealed that the Kenyan players were visibly smaller and less physically developed than their regional counterparts, largely due to limited access to advanced nutritional supplements and performance science.
“I witnessed after every game some players being taken for doping tests,” Akhulia told NTV in a recent interview.
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“During the anti-doping process, players were listing various supplements they used. Our own players like Kevin Wangaya had nothing to mention.”
This disparity was humorously highlighted by defender Baron Ochieng who joked that his only ‘supplements’ were water and Lucozade, a far cry from the well-supported regimes of their opponents.
Even Wangaya, who made the Team of the Group Stage and won Man of the Match against Nigeria, admitted to having no access to such scientific support.
“I’ve not started using supplements because we don’t have access in our country, and I’ve not found someone to properly guide me,” he said.
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Building the Foundation for Sustainable Success
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Coach Akhulia made a passionate appeal for investment in things such as nutrition, supplement access, strength training, and expert guidance, all of which are standard in countries like Nigeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.
“If Kevo goes (abroad) the way he is now, he’ll be back in Kenya soon,” Akhulia warned.
“Physicality matters a lot at the top level. Talent alone isn’t enough. We need Baron to bulk up if he’s to tussle with elite strikers as a fullback.”
There are already high expectations for both Wangaya and Ochieng.
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Ochieng, who featured in two group games, is reportedly in talks to join Egyptian giants Pyramids FC, while Wangaya has drawn interest from clubs in Italy, Croatia, Georgia, and Turkey, according to Citizen Digital.
To protect and grow this new generation of Kenyan talent, Akhulia insists the country must take a proactive approach, mirroring the models of North and West African footballing giants.
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