The newly appointed Kenya Under-20 football coach Gilbert Selebwa has called on the federation to plan early if the youth teams are to succeed in regional and continental competitions.
Selebwa had limited time to select a proper squad, as the bulk of the team that featured at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt are now overage.
The coach scouted more than 70 players, but the majority faced the same challenge — they were overage, while those within the required age bracket did not have passports and could not obtain them within the short time available.
Selebwa says he was therefore forced to turn to the Kenya Secondary Schools National Finals to identify players.
Of the 25 players in the final squad, only seven are from schools, 11 are from the Kenya Premier League, while four are based abroad.
