•Odera's team targets a squad of 400, which will be whittled down to 60 in mid-April.
•The Under 18 programme will be key in unearthing the next generation for the national Under 20 side — Chipu — and the Kenya Simbas in the next four to five years.
Image: FILE
A training squad of 60 players will be selected for the Kenya Under 18 rugby side after the national school championships in Machakos County next month.
Coach Paul Odera will, in consultation with nine regional development officers (RDOs), identify the talent for national duty.
“We are working closely with the regional development officers to identify and analyse the players. Work has started. We will have officers at the regional schools' championships searching for probables," said Odera.
His selection team has Shelly Anindo and Matayo Mwenesi from Western and Sebastian Ochieng from Nyanza.
The Rift Valley has been split into two with renowned referee Victor Oduor handling South Rift and Humphrey Kisala in charge of North Rift.
Sarah Otieno and David Weru are in charge of Nairobi while Benson Mwendwa and Patrick Mwika monitor Central and Eastern respectively.
Benson Ogutu handles North Eastern while the Coast region has Leon Lubanga and Dennis Gem.
They will be assisted by Butula High School coach Shimenga Livondo and Kakamega High's Amos Wamanga.
Odera's team targets a squad of 400, which will be whittled down to 60 in mid-April.
The squad will then be reduced to a final squad of 30 for the various competitions later in the year.
Odera, a former Kenya Simbas and Chipu coach, will personally attend the regional championships starting Wednesday.
“I am planning to attend Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Eastern to watch the players in action," he added.
The Under 18 programme will be key in unearthing the next generation for the national Under 20 side — Chipu — and the Kenya Simbas in the next four to five years.
“Biko Adema (Kenya U-15 coach) and I are key in nurturing the next generation of rugby talent. Our rugby development starts late but this is an opportunity to unearth new talent and give them the best coaching as part of the 15s national programme," said Odera.
Kenya Rugby Union chairman Alexander Mutai said plans were underway to have the team compete in competitions in South Africa and Zimbabwe later in the year, subject to availability of funds.