Rising Stars' players during a training session/HANDOUTThis afternoon, Kenya’s Under-17 side, fondly known as the Rising Stars, will take on Somalia in their opening match of the Cecafa Under-17 Cup of Nations qualifiers in a journey that could shape the next generation of Kenyan football.
It should be a moment of pride and anticipation. Instead, it feels like deja vu: yet another chapter of hasty selections, shallow preparation and a missed opportunity dressed up as national representation.
The tournament runs from November 15 to December 2.
In addition to Somalia, Kenya will also play Rwanda on November 21, South Sudan (November 24 and hosts Ethiopia (November 27), in Group A.
The stakes are straightforward: reach the final and secure a ticket to the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations. But the reality behind the headlines is far less inspiring.
Coach William Muluya, one of the few local tacticians with a genuine pedigree in youth development, was handed the task of assembling the squad barely a week before departure.
A week. In footballing terms, that is not preparation; it is improvisation. It exposes a system that continues to treat youth football as an afterthought rather than the foundation of our sporting future.
The Rising Stars have talent — that much is clear. Most of the boys were scouted from national secondary school games, where raw energy and flair abound. Yet even the most gifted teenagers need structure, cohesion and tactical discipline, none of which can be rushed. You cannot microwave team chemistry or tactical awareness in seven days.
For too long, the Football Kenya Federation has relied on talent alone. Youth teams are routinely assembled on the eve of tournaments, often only after travel logistics have been settled. The results, as predictable as sunrise, are early exits and brief post-mortems that lead nowhere.
Meanwhile, other Cecafa nations have invested in long-term youth development, year-round training centres and systematic scouting networks. Kenya, by contrast, still leans on goodwill, instinct and last-minute heroics.
Proper preparation is not a luxury; it is the price of ambition. Time in camp allows coaches to evaluate players physically, technically and psychologically. It allows medical teams to manage fatigue and prevent injuries. It builds unity — the invisible glue that turns schoolboys into a national side.
The tragedy is that this cycle is familiar. From the under-20s to the senior Harambee Stars, rushed call-ups and tactical disarray remain the norm. Short-termism has become a culture.
Muluya and his young charges deserve better — an environment that respects their effort and nurtures their promise.
As they prepare to face Somalia and the challenges ahead, one thing is certain: the Rising Stars represent not just Kenya, but the future we aspire to build. All in all... Go, go, go Rising Stars!
