Harambee Starlets meet Winnie Mandela in South Africa

Kenya women’s football team Harambee Starlets today (Sunday) met former South African first lady Winnie Madikizela Mandela at her Soweto home in Johannesburg.

The meeting came after the team attended a Sunday service at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville.

Speaking during the meeting, the former first lady wished Harambee Starlets all the best during the return leg to be played in Kenya.

“I wish you all the best in your return leg match in Kenya. I followed the match and although you are playing my own country, may the spirit of sports and fair play ultimately prevail,” she said.

The former First Lady also paid tribute to Kenyans, saying the country had undergone great transformation and had better prospects in future.

“Please pass my greetings to his excellency President Kenyatta on behalf of the great people of Kenya,” she added.

“We just came in and asked if we could meet her (the former First Lady) and they advised us to put the team together and meet her because she had a busy morning. We had to be there on time so that she does not have to wait for us,” said the team’s coach David Ouma.

“This is a very special blessing and we have the extra motivation to do well, this was never in my wildest of thoughts as we came. These are those things that you look back and you have to thank God for them.”

Head of delegation, Angeline Mwikali, thanked Mama Winnie for her gesture and goodwill, saying the honour of meeting her was a sign of good things to come for Kenyan women’s football.

The team also toured the Mandela House Family Museum, Hector Peterson Square and Bishop Desmond Tutu’s house and the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City among other historic sites.

Harambee Starlets suffered a 1-0 loss against hosts South African team Banyana Banyana in the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers played at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

The team must win by two clean goals during the return clash to be played in Nairobi in a fortnight.