Starlets ready for Flacons in Saturday friendly meet

The national women football team Harambee Starlets is finalizing training in readiness for a match against Uganda Falcons in a match to be staged at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday.

In an exclusive interview with Citizen Digital, the Starlets Team manager Doreen Nabwire said the match will help them evaluate their tactical skills and preparedness for other matches despite defeating Algeria over two months ago.

“Yes, we are playing Uganda Flacons this Saturday, they wrote to Kenya Football Federation requesting for a match. For us, it is not a bad idea, we haven’t met them for very long time,” noted Nabwire.

“So far, they have been doing well, they have a league going on, and in fact, some of our players left the camp to go and play in the Ugandan league last season.”

“The match will help us gauge ourselves and see what we are capable of two months after defeating Algeria and qualifying for the coming AWCON championships to be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The match against Uganda Falcons will be a Fifa-recognized friendly and may improve our rankings, so we are not going to take it for granted,” added Nabwire.

Nabwire also explained why FKF choose Kisumu for the match instead of Nairobi.

“We resumed training last Sunday, and for now, we are faring on well. We decided to play the game in Kisumu because we can gain the fan base.”

The match will kick-off at 3pm and will be the team preparation for the AWCON Championships which will be staged on November 19^th, 2016.

The women are expected to leave for Kisumu Friday morning and after the match, they will take a one-week break before playing an invite match in Spain on July 31^st, 2016.

After the tournament in Spain, the team will fly to Germany and play three other friendly matches against Women Bundesliga sides under the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before jetting back in the country on August 13th, 2016.

This is the current Starlets’ provisional squad.

Samantha Akinyi, Eses Akida, Elizabeth Abongo, Wendy Achieng, Carolyne Anyango, Anne Aluoch, Doris Anyango and Cheris Avila (Speedag); Tabaka Chacha, Neddy Atieno, Ann Apondi, Pauline Atieno (Makolanders); Vivian Akinyi, Sharon Aluoch, Purity Nyongesa, Terry Engesa, Corazone Aquino (Soccer Queens); Caroline Kibet, Anita Adongo, Lucy Muthoni, Mary Kinuthia, Christine Nafula (Thika Queens); Irene Ogutu, Dorcas Shikobi (Oserian); Maurine Shimili, Winnie Mugeshi (Gaspo); Beth Owiti (Wadadia), Elizabeth Muthoka (Gaspo), Mwanahalima Adam (Mombasa Olympic) and Enez Mango (Vihiga Queens).