Lionesses coach Oloo confident of World Cup chances

Kenya Lionesses head coach Felix Oloo is confident of qualifying for the ninth edition of the Women’s 2021 World Cup to be held in New Zealand.

The team will fly out Wednesday to South Africa for the 2021 World Cup qualifiers despite speculation of  a biting financial crunch .

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital, Oloo maintained his charges can outshine Africa champions South Africa in their home ground and qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history.

“South Africa defeating us is in the past now, we want to play the way we’ve planned and not be distracted by anything,” Oloo outlined.

“We’ve prepared well and we’re expecting positive results in South Africa,” he added.

Oloo added that the return of Sheila Chajira, Vivian Akumu and Naomi Amugani will be a plus to his charges.

“We’ve got very good players who’ve made a comeback and made it to the team, Chajira is a good inclusion plus Akumu and Amugani, we expect the three to bring the flare we want in the team,” he explained.

The Elgon Cup winners will kick off their qualifiers against Madagascar on Friday, August 9, 2019, at 2pm, before taking on Uganda on August 13 at 2pm. They will then wrap it up against South Africa on August 17 at 4pm.

“Having watched all the three teams play we will approach each of them according to their play, and that’s why I’m optimistic of winning,” he charged.

The winner of the tourney will qualify directly for the women’s Rugby World Cup which will take place between July 28 to August 14, 2021.

The runners up will feature in a play-off match against a selected team from South America with the winner competing in a 4-team global repechage tournament in 2020.

LIONESSES SQUAD FOR THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

PROPS: 1. Juliet Nyambura (Northern Suburbs), 2. Imogen Hooper (Northern Suburbs), 3. Everlyne Kalimera (Stanbic Mwamba), 4. Mercy Migongo (Menengai Cream Homeboyz)

HOOKERS: 5. Knight Otuoma (Kisumu RFC), 6. Stacy Atieno – (Stanbic Mwamba), 7. Victoria Gichure (Northern Suburbs)

LOCKS: 8. Millicent Opala (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 9. Bernadette Oleisia (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 10. Enid Ouma (Menengai Cream Homeboyz)

BACK ROWS: 11. Immaculate Owiro (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 12. Mitchelle Akinyi (Impala Ladies), 13. Leah Wambui – Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 14. Janet Owino (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 15. Naomi Amuguni – (Stanbic Mwamba)

HALFBACKS: 16. Irene Atieno (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), 17.  Veronica Wanjiku (Top Fry Nakuru), 18.  Vivian Akumu (Top Fry Nakuru),19. Grace Adhiambo (Top Fry Nakuru)

Centers: 20. Philadelphia Orlando (Northern Suburbs), 21. Celestine Masinde (Stanbic Mwamba), 22. Sheila Chajira (Menengai Cream Homeboyz)

BACK THREE: 23. Diana Awino (Impala Ladies), 24. Stella Wafula (Impala Ladies), 25. Christabel Lindo (Impala Ladies), 26. Janet Okelo (Stanbic Mwamba)