Harambee Starlets Crisis: Coach Resigns Days Before CECAFA Championship

In Summary:

Starlets coach Beldine Odemba resigned just days before the CECAFA Championship, citing a lack of support from the FKF.
Her exit follows a recent 5-1 loss to Morocco and comes amid reports of unpaid player allowances, leaving the team scrambling for new leadership.
An interim coaching trio is being considered to lead the team in the CECAFA Championship, a vital preparation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Kenya’s national women’s football team, the Harambee Starlets, is in crisis. Their head coach, Beldine Odemba, unexpectedly stepped down just days before a major regional tournament, the CECAFA Championship. This sudden change, fueled by claims of insufficient support and player allowance issues, leaves the team without a fixed leader as they prepare for important matches that could affect their chances for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The FKF is now working quickly to find new coaches to guide the team.

Coach’s Exit Throws Preparations into Turmoil

Starlets coach Beldine Odemba resigned just days before the CECAFA Championship. Photo courtesy.

Beldine Odemba’s decision to step down has sent shockwaves through the Starlets’ camp, leaving the team without a head coach just a week before their opening match against Burundi.

Sources close to the team indicate that Odemba, who also coaches Kenya Police Bullets FC, cited a lack of adequate support from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) as a primary reason for her resignation.

Her final game in charge was a tough 5-1 loss to Morocco on June 4 in Tangier, where Fasila Adhiambo netted Kenya’s only goal.

That match not only exposed defensive and midfield weaknesses but also occurred amidst a player strike over unpaid allowances from friendly matches played in April against Ivory Coast.

With the crucial squad submission deadline looming on June 9, the federation faces a race against time to stabilize the technical bench.

When Beldine Odemba took over as head coach in 2023, the Starlets had already claimed a CECAFA title in 2019 and made a WAFCON appearance in 2016.

Her recent period, however, saw challenging results, including 2-0 defeats to Ivory Coast and a 4-0 loss to Russia in the 2024 Pink Ladies Cup.

Scramble for New Leadership Ahead of Key Tournaments

Her exit follows a recent 5-1 loss to Morocco. Photo courtesy.

In response to the crisis, the FKF is reportedly considering an interim coaching team to guide the Starlets through the CECAFA Championship.

This trio is said to include David Bujego, coach of Kibera Soccer Women (who just reached the 2025 FKF Women’s Cup final); former Vihiga Queens coach Alex Alumirah; and ex-Starlets captain Ann Aluoch.

Bujego’s recent success brings a fresh perspective, while Aluoch’s background as both a player and coach aligns with FIFA’s broader initiatives to promote women in leadership roles within football.

However, any such appointment requires swift NEC approval before the team departs for Tanzania.

The CECAFA Championship is a vital five-nation tournament involving Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan.

The round-robin competition, with matches scheduled from June 14 to 21 and the final on June 22, demands quick team cohesion.

This regional event serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming 2026 WAFCON qualifiers, where Kenya is set to face Gambia in October.

Despite the current turbulence, FKF President Hussein Mohammed expressed optimism, describing the Morocco loss as a “valuable learning curve” and emphasizing the CECAFA tournament’s importance in building team momentum.

Broader Challenges and Hopes for Kenyan Women’s Football

Beldine Odemba took over as head coach in 2023. Photo courtesy.

The current struggles faced by the Harambee Starlets reflect wider, persistent issues within Kenyan women’s football, even as the sport experiences growth.

Since their national team debut in 1985, the Starlets have made significant strides, including their sole WAFCON qualification in 2016 under coach David Ouma.

Recent positive developments, such as the FKF’s landmark Sh4.3 million betPawa sponsorship for the Women’s Cup, signal increasing investment.

Yet, the national team continues to battle with challenges like unpaid allowances and logistical hurdles. Striker Violet Nanjala highlighted the team’s need to refocus, urging teammates to “prepare well for our forthcoming assignments.”

The upcoming CECAFA Championship presents a critical opportunity for the Starlets to regain regional supremacy—a title they last held in 2019—and to inspire young girls across the nation, as forward Aisha Mnunka observed, “Football can open doors.”

A strong performance could be the catalyst needed to propel the Starlets towards another WAFCON qualification.

With talented players like captain Dorcas Shikobe and Simba Queens’ Corazon Aquino in the squad, the potential is there, but the incoming coaching staff faces the immediate challenge of unifying the team to deliver results against Burundi and beyond.