Brave Starlets unbowed by Botswana face-off in Gaborone

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba says she is undeterred by playing away to Botswana in the second leg Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier fixture on Tuesday, December 5.

Starlets head into the match with all to play for, having drawn the first leg 1-1, coming back from a goal down and missing a crucial penalty in stoppage time.

 A goal from Marjolene Nekesa helped the Starlets to rally from behind after conceding past the half-an-hour mark before failing to capitalize on a golden opportunity to convert a penalty and take the lead going into the second leg.

"It is not an easy match but is very much doable and the girls are ready. We are trying to expel from their mind the away aspect.

"We are reminding them every time, that on the pitch, it’s just them and the players they are up against. They should just tune out the fans and environment," said Odemba.

The Starlets boss is delighted by the squad at her disposal after full integration of key players to the squad.

"The girls have trained together, it was also an issue. As I said in the last press conference, some of them just had a feel of the pitch and they did not train together but now they have. We have seen who can blend with whom," said the tactician.

At the same time Starlets goal scorer in the first leg, Marjolene Nekesa has assured that the team is ready to take on the Southern African nation.

"Preparations have been going on well and of course working on the mistakes we made in our previous games in preparation for our return match and from the look of things we are ready to go and get a good result in Botswana," assured Nekesa.

Starlets will be buoyed by the promise of a token of Sh. 5 million by Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, should they nail a ticket to the Wafcon finals.