Good start for Talanta Hela U19 teams in Costa Daurada Cup

Talanta Hela under 19 boys and girls made a winning start at the Costa Daurada Cup in Spain that kicked off on Monday.

The girls' team was in a scoring mood netting four times against CE Jupiter in the opening match at the CD Riudoms Stadium in Tarragona Spain.

Bishop Njenga Girls rookie Elizabeth Mideva produced woman-of-the-match performances as she found the back of the net twice while Marion Musanga and Hilda Natecho completed the scoring for team Kenya.

The girls' team will again take to the field on Tuesday when they battle Sporting De Portugal with a chance to secure qualification to the quarter-finals slated for Wednesday at stake.

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The girls' coach Jackline Juma praised her charges for the impressive win, noting that it was an encouragement for them to punch above weight.

“Such tournaments provide invaluable exposure for players, contributing to the development of football in the country. This is a good start and I always encourage them to do their best because they never know who is watching,” Juma said.

In an earlier match, under the guidance of former Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi, the boys' team showcased a dominant display as they triumphed over Spanish side CF Constantine to emerge 3-0 victors at the CD Riudoms Stadium.

Former St. Marks Cherangany Boys attacker Alex Kipruto, Vihiga County Chapa Dimba na Safaricom's most valuable player Derrick Oketch, and Menengai High School’s Elisha Nalianya were on the scoreboard for team Kenya,

In the second match of the tournament, the Kenya boys continued with their dominant performance following their 4-0 win over the XBuyer Team also from Spain.

Robert Mutie, William Gitama, Hamisi Otieno, and Kipruto registered a goal each to book a place in the knockout round for the teenagers.

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Speaking after the win, the men's coach Okumbi noted that the team was excited to be in the Spanish Nation, hence their good performance.

"On Sunday, the boys' had a recovery training session after the long flight, focusing on speed passing to adjust to the surface and mental preparation for the matches. Everything went as planned. Winning both matches is crucial for the team," he started.

With the wins now behind them, the coach called for more tournaments to expose the players to high-intensity matches. He noted that initiatives like the Talanta Hela were crucial for the growth of football in the country.

"More tournaments are needed for player exposure, benefiting not only the team but also the national teams in Malawi. This direction is essential for the country's football development," he concluded

The tournament has attracted over 200 football teams from across Europe which features in different categories. It runs twice throughout the year – one in spring and one in summer and is open to boys' teams aged U8 to U19, girls' teams aged U11 to U16, and adult ladies' teams.

The Talanta Hela teams are meant to help unearth more talent and ensure a regular supply of talent to the national teams.