Talanta Hela U-19 boys cruised to tournament victory as girls were downed by a Portuguese outfit at the last hurdle.
Talanta Hela U19 boys’ team emerged champions in the 15th edition of the Costa Daurada Cup held in Salou, Spain, defeating Usurbil FT 3-0 in a hard-fought final at the Futbol Salou Stadium.
The team maintained an unbeaten streak throughout their journey in Spain. They kicked off their campaign with a solid 3-0 victory over CF Constantine, followed by a dominant 4-0 win against X Buyer Team A.
They wrapped up their pool matches by securing a 2-0 win over Usurbil FT, propelling them into the semifinals.
In the semifinals, the determined squad overcame Berango FT with a 2-0 victory, setting the stage for their commanding performance in the final, where they sealed their triumph with a resounding 3-0 win over Usurbil FT.
Austin Odongo shone with a brace, supported by Hamisi Otieno, who contributed a crucial goal, sealing the victory for the youngsters.
Coach Stanley Okumbi, visibly thrilled with his team’s performance, commended their outstanding display, stating, “It was a great game. The boys really turned up well. They played according to expectations. We will build from here as we aim to make this team stronger in the future. These boys are capable of achieving more.”
Austin Odongo and William Gitamu clinched the top scorer titles of the tournament, each scoring three goals.
In the girls’ category, Kenya faced a tough match against Sporting de Portugal at the Nastic Stadium in Taragona. Despite a 1-1 draw in regular time, Kenya succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in post-match penalties, following their earlier victory against the Portuguese side.
Elizabeth Mideva stood out as the tournament’s top scorer, netting six goals, including Kenya’s lone goal during regular time.
She received the Golden Boot award, while goalkeeper Christine Adhiambo was honored as the best goalkeeper of the tournament, boasting five clean sheets.
The girls’ team received medals and a team trophy for their efforts. Looking ahead, the youngsters will embark on further skill development at the MIC Camp, under the guidance of esteemed international coaches.
