Kanyi backs Junior Starlets to bag 2024 World Cup ticket

Former Harambee Starlets coach Richard Kanyi says the current Junior Starlets squad have the ‘necessary quality’ to help the side punch the 2024 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup ticket for the tournament set to be held in Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3.

The new Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche on Tuesday named the provisional squad of 30 players for the next month’s two-legged second round qualifiers against DR Congo.

The youngsters begin the first leg away in Kinshasa on February 4 before playing host for the return leg on Sunday, February 11.

“First I want to congratulate Cheche for her appointment as the new tactician of Junior Starlets. She is a hard working woman having coached her while playing for Thika Queens before she embarked on coaching career after picking an injury.

“Have seen the squad she has named and I can say that it's a very good squad which if well prepared then it will defeat Congo DR and later qualify for the junior World Cup tournament.”

Kanyi, who took over from David Ouma in July 2017 before he was given the boot a year later, however fears Cheche will not have a full house as majority of her players are currently in secondary schools and will be in session during the two fixtures.

“My main concern is with the FIFA calendar which is not in sync with the schools calendar. All players called to the camp are students and parents may fail to release them to the camp for one reason or the other.

“I think the Football Kenya Federation has a huge task to convince the schools administration and the parents on the importance of the tournament so that they may make coach Cheche job easy by releasing the girls.”

Notable names in the squad that will hit camp from Wednesday include Talanta Hela's U 19 Most Valuable Player Lorna Faith and Joy Angela Valencia both from Butere Girls.

Also in the fold is Madira Soccer Assassins' forward Valarie Nekesa, who has already established herself in the Rising Starlets as she played in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Cameroon last year.

The winner of the two-legged second round will proceed to the third round.

Cheche was appointed on Monday as the team’s new head coach and will be assisted by former Kenyan international Ann Aluoch.

Cheche will also continue to serve in her role as the assistant coach for the senior women’s national team, Harambee Starlets and the Rising Starlets. Aluoch also holds a similar role with the U15 women’s national team.