Ghana or Gabon? Starlets all but ready for next challenge

After extinguishing the Flames of Malawi, Kenya women national football team, Harambee Starlets, will follow keenly the return leg between Ghana and Gabon as the two lock horn at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Cape Coast City in  Ghana on Tuesday for a ticket to the third round of the Olympic qualifier.

The winner of this tie will face the Starlets in a two-leg contest with the winner proceeding to the next year’s Olympic Games.

Ghana have an upper hand having thrashed Gabon 3-0 in the first leg played in Gabon last Wednesday.

On their part, the Starlets reached at the third round having had a bye in the first roundbefoe dispatching Malawi 5-3 on aggregate to reach this stage.

Starlets’ captain Sikobe Dorcas said: “The current team is real, fighting hard compared to the previous team who were not playing their hearts out and it’s obvious when players work hard results get positive.”

Sikobe added that everyone had a winning heart in Sunday’s clash and it was not just players but the management too.

On his side, head coach David Ouma attributed the win to the efforts made by the federation to help the technical bench scout for ‘the best’ talents across the country.

“This is a young team and we will keep on scouting for the best, and every player has to fight for her position,” Ouma added.

Meanwhile, Adam Mwanalima, who scored a brace, has said that it is not something special for her to score goals but her duty as a striker.

“I feel good scoring but it’s not that special since it’s my duty as a striker to score goals. I thank everyone including my teammates and those fans that supported us despite them not being allowed to come and watch us play, I believe we will do more in the next round,” Mwanalima added.

Cynthia Shilwatso opened the scoring in the first half, in 18th minute, which left the aggregate score at 3-3 before an Adam quick-fire double in the 81st and 87th minutes put their progression beyond doubt.