Buoyant Ouma confident of slaying E.Guinea as Starlets intensify preps

Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma has hailed the determination showed by his girls in camp and is confident of beating Equatorial Guinea when the two sides lock horns on June 6 at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos in an African Women Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Starlets will confront the tiny Guinea in the first leg of the second round qualifier with their eyes firmly trained on the ticket to Ghana for the finals.

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital, Ouma said: “I am very happy by how my girls are responding in training. The new players whom I called up have adjusted well,” he said.”We have been working on adaptation exercise to allow the team gel and make right decisions during matches.

“From tomorrow we will start the extensive interval training which gives players ability to make a counter attack and be able to defend,” added Ouma.

Ouma understands best that the task at hand is no mean assignment but is promising to give his best.

“We really want to win this match and the secret is beating them at home and ensuring we don’t concede .If we do that (keep a clean sheet) then we will have an easy task in the second leg. Equatorial Guinea is not easy to beat; they’re more experienced knowing that they have participated in four AWCONs and featured once in the World Cup. All in all we are optimistic of registering good results.”

Ouma however expressed his disappointment on how Rwanda Football Federation postponed the 2018 Cecafa women tournament which was scheduled for May 11-22 due to unavailability of hosting funds initially meant to be sent to them by Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA).

“The whole team was physically and psychologically prepared for Cecafa tournament but I was disappointed by how it was postponed.”

The second leg will be staged on June 9 in Malabo with the aggregate winner qualifying for the 11th edition of the African Women Cup of Nation to be held in Ghana from November 27- December 1.