Kanyi bullish as Starlets prepare for Zambia showdown

Harambee Starlets head coach Richard Kanyi is bullish her charges will do well when they tackle Zambia in an international friendly match this Sunday, adding that all her players are in good condition as they put the final touches on their preparations at their Machakos base.

The girls are penciled to jet out on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s build-up match to be played at the Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

The Starlets will use the match as a dress rehearsal for a 2019 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda’s Crested Cranes on April 4 in the first leg at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Said Kanyi: “The training is going on well despite sometimes being destructed by heavy rains. All my players are in good condition and none of them has major injuries problems.”

Though 31 players are in camp, only 20, who are promising, according to Kanyi,  will board the plane to Kitwe.

” For the few weeks we have been training here in Machakos, I have got to know the strength of every player. I will travel with a team of 20 but I will keep an eye on their progress for the match against Uganda,” Said the former Thika Queens coach.

Kanyi, at the same time, is optimistic of overcoming Zambia.

“They(Zambia) are a very tough team.We met them last year in the COSAFA tournament in Zimbabwe and they beat us. We will try our best to overcome them, I believe we will,” Added Kanyi.

Harambee Starlets will depend on sensational striker Mwanalima Dogo Adam as well as experienced Esse Mbeyu Akida in the forward line while Corazone Acquino is expected to harden the midfield department.

Other players who are expected to add flavour in Starlets team is Vihiga Queen’s and Women Premier League top scorer Teresa Engesha, as well as her colleague, striker Cynthia Shilwatso .