Harambee Starlets need full support

The appointment of Godfrey Oduor as coach of Kenya women’s football team should mark a fresh start as the team embarks on preparations for 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Coach Oduor has hit the ground running, naming a preliminary squad of 43 players who will play in the second round Olympic qualifier match on Thursday away in Seychelles. The return leg is set for October 12 in Nairobi.

Meritocracy and fairness should take precedence when the final team is named.

In many respects, Harambee Starlets are seeking redemption after dismal performance in 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament held from July 26 to August 16 in Morocco.

The team failed to win a single match in Morocco, and questions were raised with regard to pre-championship preparations and welfare of the players.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the government should accord the new technical bench full support, and make all the necessary arrangements for the players in good time to put them in a good frame of mind to deliver results.

To succeed, the technical bench needs support from all the stakeholders, among them the federation, government, clubs and local coaches.

The government builds stadiums, and pays coaches’ salaries and player allowances, the federation runs local leagues and facilitates the team’s matches, clubs supply national teams with players, and fans provide much-needed moral support to the players during matches.

Kenya is also yet to fully exploit vibrant talent seen in school competitions. Kenya’s qualification for the 2024 and 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup shows that it can be done. We must build on this success to succeed in senior tournaments.

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