The Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars teams tasted their first defeats in Spain after losing to local academy sides on Thursday evening at the Huesca Academy Grounds.
The boys went down 2-1 to AD Sabiñánigo in a fast-paced encounter.
The Spanish side struck first just before halftime through Emmanuel Essel, before Mario Fernando added a second early in the second half.
The Kenyan youngsters refused to give in, piling pressure until Armstrong Omondi pulled one back.
Despite their late push for an equalizer, time ran out, and the game ended 2-1.
“All that separates us today is the scoreline. The boys created many chances and showed real quality despite the fatigue of playing daily friendlies,” said Evans Oketch, coach of the All-Stars boys’ team. “I was very impressed with their performance.”
In the girls’ match, the All-Stars faced SD Huesca’s U14 boys’ side and lost 4-1, with Calta Nasambu scoring the team’s only goal.
Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi praised the progress of the players, saying the Spain camp was already shaping their game.
“Training at a professional academy is a rare opportunity. The players are learning every day, and you can see the growth even in these matches,” she said. “This Saturday, we’ll also take them to watch SD Huesca play Málaga an experience that will inspire and motivate them for years to come.”
The friendly matches are part of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars elite training camp in Spain, now in its fourth day.
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