Coach Odemba out, Oduor back in new-look Harambee Starlets bench

By  Toto Arege

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

• The newly appointed head coach Godfrey Oduor will have little time to settle into his new role.
• Starlets were expected to report to camp on Friday to begin preparations for the Olympics qualifiers.

Kenya women’s national football team coach Beldine Odemba has left the role by mutual consent after three years in charge of the Harambee Starlets.

Godfrey 'Solo' Oduor has taken over as interim coach as the team prepares to play Seychelles in 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers next week.

Oduor’s return became apparent on Friday morning when he named a 43-member provisional squad for the two-leg second-round qualifier, confirming Odemba’s departure. 

Team manager Gloria Mwende left the team’s technical bench last month, paving the way for changes in the team’s set-up. Reports indicate that changes have been made to the whole technical bench, and many new faces have joined Oduor’s squad. 

Former Harambee Starlets defender Mary Adhiambo has been appointed the team’s assistant coach, with former Zetech Sparks coach Bernard Kitolo as the second assistant coach.

Anima Odhiambo will serve as the team manager, while Gor Mahia’s former goalkeeper Jerim Onyango is the new goalkeeper coach.

Geoffrey Thomas is part of the team’s new technical bench as strength and conditioning coach, David Nabule Ndakal is the new team doctor, and Enos Karani is the team’s physiotherapist. 

The changes come just over two months since Kenya endured a difficult campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) held in Morocco, where Kenya lost all her three Group ‘A’ matches.

Harambee Starlets opened their campaign with a 4-0 defeat to hosts Morocco, then fell 2-0 to Algeria and 1-0 to Senegal. They conceded seven goals, the second-highest tally in the tournament after Egypt, who let in 12.

Oduor, a former defender for KCB, Nzoia Sugar, Tusker FC and Agrochemicals, will have little time to settle into his new role, with Kenya scheduled to face Seychelles in a two-leg second-round qualifier match for the 2028 Olympic Games. 

The first leg will be played on October 8, with the return leg on October 12. Both matches will be played at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, kicking off at 3pm. Starlets were expected to report to camp on Friday (October 2), to begin preparations for the qualifiers. 

Odemba, a holder of a Caf ‘A’ coaching licence, took charge of Harambee Starlets in September 2023, succeeding Oduor, who had been appointed earlier that year.

During her tenure, Odemba took charge of Harambee Starlets in 33 matches in all competitions, recording 12 wins, four draws and 17 defeats.

She also doubled up as head coach of the Rising Starlets, Kenya’s Under-20 women’s team, during part of her tenure.

Before returning to the national team, Oduor served as an assistant coach at South Sudan Premier League Side El Merreikh Bentiu.

On Friday, Oduor named a 43-player provisional squad that features a blend of experienced players and new faces, five of the players earning their first call-ups to the senior national team.

Among those returning to the national team setup are Simba Queens midfielder Corazone Aquino, Gor Mahia Queens goalkeeper Monica Odato, Kibera Soccer Women’s defender Janet Mumo, Mathare United Women’s defender Wincaate Kaari, and Haymanaspor midfielder Lavine Achola.

Kenya Police Bullets forward Faith Mboya, Wacker Innsbruck forward Sylvia Makungu, and Madira Soccer Assassins forward Charity Midewa have also been recalled.

The five new faces in the team are Kayole Starlets defender Hellen Ochieng, Madira Soccer Assassins defender Abigael Njeru, Gideon Starlets midfielder Mercyline Wafula, Vihiga Queens midfielder Josephine Warenga and Kayole Starlets forward Magneta Ocharo.

Harambee Starlets Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Annedy Kundu (Kenya Police Bullets), Lilian Awuor (Farul Constanta, Romania), Vivian Shiyonzo (Kibera Soccer Women), Juliet Adhiambo (Trinity Starlets), Monica Odato (Gor Mahia Queens)

Defenders: Ruth Ingosi (Simba Queens, Tanzania), Elizabeth Ochaka (Kenya Police Bullets), Norah Ann (Kenya Police Bullets), Leah Andiema (Kenya Police Bullets), Vivian Nasaka (hakkarigucu spor, Turkey), Enez Mango (Politehnica Timișoara Feminina, Romania), Mary Nthambi (Kenya Police Bullets), Janet Mumo (Kibera Soccer Women), Wincaate Kaari (Mathare United Women) Elizabeth Muteshi (Trinity Starlets), Hellen Ochieng (Shabana Starlets) Lavine Achola (Haymanaspor, Turkey), Euphrasier Shilwatso (Haymanaspor, Turkey), Abigael Njeru (Soccer Assassins)

Midfielders: Lorna Nyarinda (Kenya Police Bullets), Fasila Adhiambo (Simba Queens), Mercy Airo (Ulinzi Starlets), Martha Amunyolete (Kenya Police Bullets), Elizabeth Mideva (FC Gintra, Lithuania), Mwanalima Adam (HB Koge, Denmark), Lavender Akinyi (Ulinzi Starlets), Corazone Aquino (Simba Queens), Mercyline Wafula (Gedion Starlets), Marion Serenge (St. Noa Girls, Uganda), Josephine Warenga (Vihiga Queens)

Forwards: Tereza Engesha (Kenya Police Bullets), Faith Mboya (Kenya Police Bullets), Violet Nanjala (Hibernians FC Women, Scotland), Eglay Mukhwana (Kenya Police Bullets), Shaline Nambengele (Ulinzi Starlets), Airin Madalina (Kenya Police Bullets), Valerie Nekesa (CD Tenerife Femenino, Spain), Sylvia Makungu (Wacker Innsbruck W, Austria), Jentrix Shikangwa (FC Masar, Egypt), Magneta Ocharo (Kayole Starlets), Charity Midewa (Madira Soccer Assassins), Shirleen Opisa (Amus College, Uganda), Catherine Cheema (Pantelakos GFS, Greece)