The highly anticipated Talanta Hela Under 19 national football tournament is set to kick off this Sunday, following a draw held by the Ministry of Sports on Thursday night at the Talanta Plaza headquarters in Nairobi.
The draw saw 16 boys’ and 16 girls’ teams divided into four groups of four teams each. The tournament’s opening ceremony will take place at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, with the final scheduled for December 12.
In the boys’ category, Group A features Garissa, Kericho, Vihiga, and Homabay, while Group B comprises Nyeri, Baringo, Kisumu, and Nyamira. Group C includes Mombasa, Marsabit, West Pokot, and Kirinyaga, and Group D consists of Kiambu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Makueni.
In the girls’ category, Group A consists of Kakamega, Kwale, Busia, and Nandi, while Group B includes Wajir, West Pokot, Homabay, and Kisii. Group C comprises Nyeri, Samburu, Kisumu, and Nairobi, and Group D features Kitui, Machakos, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16.
Preliminary matches will be held at Kirigiti, Jamhuri Grounds, Moi Stadium, and Kasarani, with the final set for December 12 at Nyayo Stadium. The victorious team will receive a substantial prize purse of Sh5 million.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba emphasized that the tournament aims to provide a platform for young footballers to showcase and monetize their talent.
He highlighted the success of the national boys’ team at the ongoing Cecafa U18 Boys championship, attributing it to the effective scouting network deployed during the national secondary school ball games in Kakamega.
Namwamba emphasized the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent alongside academic achievements, stating, “Encourage boys and girls to do well in various subjects and also encourage them to do well in music, sports, acting because you can build a successful career using talent.”
The Talanta Hela Under-19 tournament is a significant component of the broader Talanta Hela initiative, aiming to create a pipeline for young individuals to build a career through their talents.
The draw followed the successful inter-county playoffs staged at the Moi Complex primary school in Nyeri two weeks ago. Namwamba cautioned counties against underestimating the event, urging serious participation to foster talent development.
