Street World Cup in Rio, Kenya to play

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Kenya set for Rio Street Child World Cup Updated Sunday, March 23rd 2014 at 23:41 GMT +3 0 inShare By Ernest Ndunda Bakar team during Road to Rio 2014 tournament.

Kenya will make their maiden appearance in the World Street Child Cup, which kicks off this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Team Kenya made their final touches at the weekend when they participated at a Mombasa Street Child Football Tournament at Bomu Primary School. The team's head of delegation Bokey Achola said the Kenyan side, which comprises nine players, will participate in the seven-a-side tournament. The tournament, which has attracted 26 boys' and nine girls' teams, runs from Friday to April 7. "We have finalised the arrangements for the Brazil tour after securing all needed documents and we are gearing up for the competition," Achola told FeverPitch at the weekend. Achola said the tournament is meant to unite street children from across five continents ahead of the 2014 World Cup in June-July in Brazil. "The Team Kenya, which has players from Glad's House Centre, Wema Centre and AFCIC of Thika has been sponsored by a local NGO, Glad's House," said Achola. To ensure the team is in top shape ahead of kick-off, Achola said Glad's House has been hosting intensive training camps with a three-hour football session in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Achola said: "We're excited to be taking Kenya's first ever team to the Street Child World Cup. The team has been putting a lot of effort in training so I'm hoping this will pay off. "All eyes will be on the competition ahead of the official Fifa World Cup later this summer so we want to send a positive message about Kenya's street children and get everyone talking about the issues faced by homeless children," said Achola. He said the training has also involved cultural preparations and dance classes to prepare the boys for the competition's opening ceremony, which will take place in Rio de Janerio. Achola added: "We've got some strong opposition in our group, but I'm confident the boys will make us proud." -enzioka@standardmedia.co.ke GO TO PAGE 1 2 Next »
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