NAIROBI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Stanley Okumbi, head coach of the Kenyan youth team, felt confident ahead of this year's regional Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) under-20 Championships, which starts on Saturday in Gulu and Jinja, Uganda.

"We are in a tough group but I think the tougher the group the better the challenge," Okumbi said on Wednesday, adding that his team is going to give it their best and hopes to trounce their opponents in the 11-team competition.

"With the quality of players we have in the team, I don't think we have any excuse for not getting positive results. I have challenged my players that this is their chance of showcasing what they can do and I am confident we will do well," the coach said.

Kenya has been pooled in Group B alongside Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Tanzania, while Uganda, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti make up Group A and Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia are in Group C.

The top three teams from Group A and B will join the top two from Group C in the quarterfinals.

"Zanzibar has pulled out of the tournament because they are reorganizing their federation," CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said.

Gulu and Jinja towns were picked to host the two-week tournament sponsored by world football governing body FIFA, to the tune of 500,000 U.S dollar. Enditem

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