Okwemba hails Rising Stars growth, call for more friendlies to offer exposure

Former AFC Leopards midfielder Charles Okwemba has hailed the performance of the national under-20 football team, the Rising Stars, at the just concluded CECAFA Africa Cup of National qualifiers.

Rising Stars fell 2-1 to host Tanzania in the final played last evening but despite the defeat still qualified for the tournament that will be taking place in January at a host country that will be named Tuesday after CAF General Assembly meeting in Addis Ababa.

“They played really well for them to get to the final, that is good progress for the junior teams having seen the under 18 reached the final last year so that final bit of winning the title is what is remaining,” Okwemba said, adding that, “ I see it happening very soon.”

Having qualified for the continental showpiece Okwemba has called on the federation to organize more competitive friendly matches ahead of the tournament for them to have a feel of what to expect during the competition.

“They need more exposure for them to get a feel of what to expect, I trust the federation is putting in place the right measure to ensure they organize high end friendlies as they gear up for the tournament ,”added Okwemba

The ex-Leopards man also urged the technical bench to keep tabs on the players’ progress, both local and international, in order to select the best to represent the country in the showpiece.