Harambee Starlets Europe-bound

Harambee Starlets' striker Nedy Atieno (right) and Uganda Falcons defender Stella Nassuna vie for the ball during their international friendly match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on July 3, 2016. Atieno scored a brace as Starlets beat Ethiopia 3-2 in Cecafa women's championships semi-finals on Sunday. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |

What you need to know:

  • Star player Adam not part of travelling side as she is studying in school
  • Twenty-one players will travel to Valencia.

Kenya women’s football team Harambee Starlets leave the country this afternoon for Valencia, Spain for an international invitational tournament that begins on Sunday.

Harambee Starlets will come up against teams from Spain, Portugal and Venezuela in the week-long tournament called Torneo Internacional de Futbol Sub-20 de L’Alcudia.

Kenya will use the tournament as part of their preparation for the Africa Women Cup of Nations that will be held in Cameroon between November 19 and December 3.

Speaking to Saturday Nation Sport , Starlets coach David Ouma expressed delight with the prospects of playing friendly matches against European sides.

He said he was confident the trip would have a positive impact on the team’s future performance.
“I am very glad that we have gotten this opportunity to be able to travel. The exposure alone will be good because the girls will be meeting different teams and will be playing in a relatively competitive environment,” Ouma said.

“This will obviously be very good preparation for the girls before we come back to fine tune for the Afcon competition. I just wish that we could have carried the whole team but due to the limited budget and visa issues, that wasn’t possible,” he added.

Twenty-one players will travel to Valencia.

The team underwent two weeks of residential training at Kasarani under Ouma.

Starlets claimed an emphatic 8-0 victory over Olivet Nazarene University from the United States of America in a friendly match at Kasarani on Thursday.
Diminutive striker Mwanahalima “Dogo” Adam will however miss this trip as she is studying in secondary school.

The star player is a Form Four student at St John’s Kaloleni in Mombasa.

Team captain Mary Kinuthia has promised the team will do well in Spain.

Goalkeeper trainer Lawrence Webo, who was asked to step aside by FKF following allegations of sexual impropriety within the Starlets camp two weeks ago, has been excluded from the travelling party.

TRAVELLING SQUAD

GK: Samantha Akinyi, Akinyi Vivian   

Defenders: Ambogo Elizabeth, Wendy-Ann Achieng, Ogutu Irene, Dorcas Shikobe, Carolyne Anyango, Aluoch Sharon, Doris Anyango, Ann Aluoch  

Midfielders: Cheris Avilia, Corazone Aquino, Ogol Jacky, Mercy Achieng, Christine Nafula

Strikers: Esse Akida, Nedy Atieno, Kinuthia Mary, Enez Mudeizi, Nyongesa Purity

Technical Bench: Ouma David (Coach), Mary Adhiambo (Assistant Coach), Doreen Nabwire (Team Manager)