Kenya U20 head coach Gilbert Selebwa has outlined early preparations and a structured pathway from the junior ranks as key measures needed to build a more competitive Rising Stars side.Selebwa's comments come after Kenya's elimination from the ongoing CECAFA U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Tanzania, where the Rising Stars failed to secure a victory from their two Group C matches.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsKenya opened their campaign with a defeat to Burundi before being held to a 1-1 draw by South Sudan in their second outing. The results left Selebwa's side with a point, finishing second in the group but falling short of securing a place among the best runners-up.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980516##With the campaign now over, Selebwa believes Kenya must begin preparations much earlier and create a clear progression pathway between the country's junior teams instead of assembling squads shortly before major competitions.“Moving forward, I will sit down with the men in charge to get early preparation because most won't be available next time. My appeal is that they consider early preparation and integration from the other lower ranks to be competitive, by looking into integrating Under-17 into the Under-20 for continuity,” Selebwa said.FUFA announces improved Uganda Cranes incentives ahead of AFCON 2027He also called for closer monitoring of players in school competitions, arguing that talent identification should begin well below the U20 level.“We need to go down to the school games which promote Under-15, Under-17 all the way to the junior ranks so that we have continuous monitoring of the players into becoming successful,” he added.Selebwa attributed part of Kenya's struggles in Tanzania to the significant turnover in the squad, revealing that almost 90 percent of the players who featured in the previous U20 AFCON qualification campaign were no longer eligible.“Almost 90 percent of the players that played last time were ineligible, and so we had to get another set in that age, and so yes, it was going to be difficult. We lost the match based on naivety, but we did well in the second match, and it's all about looking into the future,” he said.A look into Tanzania's transport game changer ahead of 2027 AFCON [PHOTOS]Kenya's elimination meant Rising Stars will miss next year's U20 AFCON finals in Ghana, where they had hoped to make a second appearance at the continental tournament.
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