Starlets switch base to Ruiru ahead of Cecafa

Harambee Starlets have intensified their preparation ahead of the third edition of the Cecafa women championship to be held in Kigali from May 11–22.

Starlets held its first training session in Ruiru on Wednesday as coach David Ouma bids to have the ladies familiarize themselves with playing over an artificial turf.

The Camp Toyoyo Grounds is the other alternative for the team that has been holding their sessions at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

The competition, which was supposed to be held last year, will be contested over a 10-day period at the Nyamirambo Stadium in the Rwandan capital.

“The field we will use in Rwanda in the Cecafa is artificial so it’s good that we familiarize with kind of the field early.

“We are very thirsty for the Cecafa trophy; we tried last time but we only came second best. According to the training and competitive matches we have played I believe we will overcome every team come May and being crowned the winners,” the ex-Sofapaka boss said.

Last week, Ouma named a 26-strong list of players who have since reported to camp and he says all of them are in a good condition.

Starlets will be chasing for a first ever Cecafa title after coming agonizingly close in 2016 when they lost to Tanzania in the final held at the FUFA technical Center in Njeru, Uganda.

So far Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti have already confirmed their participation for tourney while Eritrea and South Sudan are expected to do so  for the competition that will be funded by FIFA after being revived in 2016.