Training abroad will spur Junior Starlets to U17 World Cup, Aluoch says

Kenya women's Under-17 national team assistant coach Ann Aluoch wants the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports, to organize a training camp for the team abroad in preparation for this year's FIFA U17 World Cup, if they manage to beat Burundi in the fourth and final round of qualifiers.

Junior Starlets stormed to the final round of the qualifiers after thrashing hapless Ethiopia 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi.

Skipper Elizabeth Ochaka, Nyakach Girls forward Velma Awuor and substitute Lorna Faith were on target to ensure Starlets secured a final berth in the qualifiers with an aggregate score of 3-0, following a goalless draw in the first leg a week ago at Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa.

In an interview with Citizen Digital, Aluoch, who doubles up as Mathare United Women FC tactician, said the World Cup is a competitive tournament hence a camp outside the country will greatly motivate the players.

“Of course we need proper preparations because we are not going to participate in the World Cup but we are going to perform. We also need to set standards to our players and technical bench as a whole. In our upcoming match against Burundi in June, we are very much optimistic of emerging as aggregate winners despite our opponents seeing off Djibouti with an aggregate score of 25-0,” said Aluoch.

However, Aluoch believes that the two weeks preparation will give a chance to their injured players - Joy Agelah Valencia (Butere Girls) and Valerie Nekesa (Madira Girls) - to heal.

“We really missed Joy's services in the last match due to injury, while Valerie was substituted during the match, but it’s my hope that we will have them in the two-legged match against Burundi. They are part of our crucial players and I believe having them back in the squad will fuel our dream to qualify for the World Cup. I’m urging my girls to be very much focused ahead of Burundi match,” noted the tactician.

“I also want to thank the federation (FKF) and the Ministry of Sports under the Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, for their unwavering support to the team,” said Aluoch. 

The aggregate winner of the match will represent the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) region at the 2024 Under-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic in October, 2024.