Kenya Under-17 women’s national team head coach Mildred Cheche is banking on home support to inspire the Junior Starlets to victory against Uganda in their crucial return-leg qualifier on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium.
The Junior Starlets head into the decisive encounter with a slight advantage after securing a 1-1 draw away in the first leg in Kampala. Cheche believes playing at home, backed by Kenyan supporters, could provide the extra motivation needed to overcome Uganda and move a step closer to qualification.
“All the players are mentally ready. Playing at home is an advantage compared to away because the players will have support from the home fans,” said Cheche.
The tactician expressed confidence in her squad, noting that the technical bench has spent the week addressing mistakes from the first leg while sharpening the team mentally and tactically. “We are prepared for the match. We have worked on several areas that needed improvement, and we are hoping for the best on Saturday,” she added.
Cheche maintained that the team remains focused on its long-term ambition of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, but insisted they are taking the journey one match at a time.
“We are taking one game at a time because every match and every win matters,” she said. She also urged Kenyan fans to turn up in large numbers and rally behind the team during the important fixture.
Team captain Bevarline Awuor echoed her coach’s sentiments, saying the players are highly motivated ahead of the showdown. “We are ready for the match, and we are approaching it with a positive mindset. We would like to ask fans to turn up in large numbers and support the team,” said Awuor.
Midfielder Mwanakombo Bakari admitted the team had hoped to secure victory in the first leg but believes the lessons learned from the draw will help them produce a stronger performance at home.
“We wanted to win the first game, but we ended up with a draw. We have corrected our mistakes, and we are hopeful of getting a win tomorrow,” said Bakari.
Uganda head coach Sheryl Botes, however, believes her side is capable of upsetting the hosts despite Kenya’s experience and pedigree at this level. Botes said Uganda created numerous scoring opportunities in the first leg but failed to convert them, something she hopes her players will improve on in Nairobi. “We had a lot of chances in the first leg, but we did not use them well compared to Kenya,” said Botes.
“The team is well prepared, and the players are confident going into tomorrow’s match.” The Ugandan tactician revealed that her squad heads into the match without injury concerns, giving her a full selection to choose from.
“We have no injuries going into tomorrow’s match. We have a big squad, and every player is ready,” she added. Despite acknowledging Kenya’s strengths, Botes insisted Uganda has what it takes to challenge for a historic qualification.
“It is going to be tough because Kenya has a very good squad. They are quick in transition, and they also have players who represented the country at the World Cup last year,” she said. “After seeing them in Kampala, I know we can do better.”
Botes described the two sides as evenly matched teams with different tactical approaches, although she admitted Kenya has an advantage in experience.
“The two teams are quite equal but with different techniques. Kenya has a more experienced team compared to our young squad,” noted Botes. For Uganda, the fixture carries added significance as the country seeks a first-ever qualification for a women’s FIFA World Cup tournament.
“A win would mean a lot to us. Qualifying would be a huge achievement because no women’s team in Uganda’s history has ever qualified for the World Cup,” she said. The winner of Saturday’s clash at Nyayo National Stadium will move a step closer to securing a place on the global stage in what is expected to be a fiercely contested encounter.
