Just hours after reports emerged that Kenya National Under-20 football rising star Aldrine Kibet is on the brink of signing with Spanish La Liga side Celta de Vigo, former Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has revealed that Amos Wanjala, another U-20 Kenyan player, is set to ink a similar deal in Spain.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 15, Namwamba disclosed that the Kenya U-20 captain is on the verge of joining Spanish La Liga side Elche CF.
Notably, Wanjala also played for St. Anthony’s Boys High School, Kitale, alongside Kibet and Alvin Kasavuli in 2023. Together, they helped the team reclaim the national high school football title in August that year before joining Nastic Sports Academy in Tarragona, Spain.
“Congratulations, my boys Aldrine Kibet and Amos Wanjala, for the giant step to the elite Spanish LaLiga. We dreamed big, we believed it is here! #CeltaVigo #ElcheCF Today am the happiest Dad across the length and breadth of Kenya, from the Lake to the Sea, Todonyang to Loitoktok,” said Namwamba.
Ababu Namwamba congratulates Amos Wanjala and Aldrine Kibet
The former CS expressed delight at the promising journey the two young players have achieved after progressing through two sports academies, having been scouted from the national school games.
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He also highlighted other players who have joined professional teams.
“From school ball games to Sports Academy Kenya, to Nastic Soccer Academy, to the paid ranks of elite football. It’s even more satisfying that our Aldrine-Amos seed pool of talents is big, and includes other exciting talents like Alvin Kasavuli and Luis Ingavi,” Namwamba added.
“Ingavi graduated from MontVerde Academy in Orlando USA, on May 17 and joined a Michigan semi-pro team ahead of university in August.”
Wanjala is set to join Elche CF, which recently earned promotion to La Liga, after a stint at Spanish fifth-tier side Athletic Club Torrellano.
The towering defender, who captained the national U-18 team to a second-place finish at the CECAFA tournament in Kisumu in December 2023, joined Torrellano in August 2024 after impressing at Nastic.
Also Read: Kenya’s U20 Star Aldrine Kibet Joins La Liga Side Celta Vigo
In November 2024, he was handed his maiden call-up to the Harambee Stars ahead of the crucial final two AFCON 2025 qualifier matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Wanjala had impressed in the 2024 CECAFA U-20 tournament in Tanzania as he helped the Rising Stars punch a ticket to the junior AFCON hosted by South Africa this year.
Kibet’s move to Celta
The new developments follow reports that Wanjala’s Kenya U-20 teammate Aldrine Kibet is set to finalize a deal with Celta de Vigo.
On Monday night, Kibet’s parents were spotted in Spain after arriving — a clear signal that transfer talks between Nastic and Celta Vigo have reached an advanced stage.
Spanish outlet ElDesmarque highlighted that, contrary to the reported figure of €6 million (Ksh864 million) being circulated, Kibet will join the Vigo club at zero cost.
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