Starlets ace Kinuthia talks up AFCON mission

National football team, Harambee Starlets, are looking forward to report to training camp in within a fortnight to prepare for their second round women’s Africa Cup of Nations championship qualifiers.

Speaking to Radio Citizen on Monday, deputy captain, Mary Kinuthia said they are motivated to progress past the next stage after receiving a bye in the first round when the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from competition.

Starlets were forced to break camp to pace way for their men counterparts to start preparations for their 2017 AFCON qualifier away to Guinea Bissau on March 23.

Kinuthia hailed the new Football Kenya Federation (FKF) administration for giving them assurances of support after many years of neglect.

“The team is very stable, because we have been provided with almost everything but breaking the training camp was not expected but we hope to resume in one and a half weeks to maintain intensity.

“We have belief in the new FKF leaders and that’s why it is called Team Change and we are already seeing the changes,” the deputy captain said.

“First we were provided with training facilities immediately we reported in the camp and secondly, our welfare is being taken off well,” the Uganda Lady Cardinals player who was formerly at Mathare United added.

Kinuthia appealed to the federation to get them ready for their tie against either Ethiopia or Algeria by organizing a friendly with a top side to gauge their strength.

“We haven’t played even a single friendly but the deputy FKF president Doris Petra assured us that the moment we resume in training, she will organize experienced teams like Egypt, South Africa to give us exposure

On the passport scandal dating back to 2012 where Petra was adversely mentioned, Kinuthia said the matter rest with officials at the time as she absolved the deputy federation boss from any wrongdoing.

“I think there was a game that was played underground although we don’t understand, we left the matter to officials

“We were from Ethiopia and on our way back home; we received information that we were supposed to play Tanzania. Afterwards, we were told to collect our passports and hand them over to our, captain Doreen Nabwire who gave them to federation.

“I’m not aware what happened from there but when we received our passports back, they had stamps.

“I don’t think Petra was involved in the matter because I was in that team and the other officials were handling the matter while Petra was far away. Her position (then) couldn’t allow her and I’m not defending her,” the player maintained.

“I only blame the former leadership under Sam Nyamweya. He understood what was going on with ladies football team because he was the final command.”