News Focus
- Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba accuses Simba Queens of using false medical reports to stop Kenyan players from joining the national team.
- Foreign-based stars Enez and Lillian will miss the June international window due to work permit complications.
- The team is preparing for the Four Nations Tournament in Lusaka, Zambia, scheduled for June 6th and 9th.
- Teenage striker Marion Serenge and attacker Violet Nanjala have received emergency call-ups to fill the gaps in the squad.
- The tournament serves as vital preparation for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has openly criticised clubs in Tanzania for blocking her players from joining the national team camp. The coach specifically pointed fingers at Simba Queens, accusing the Tanzanian champions of creating false excuses to keep Kenyan internationals away from duty.
The national team is currently preparing for the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia. However, Odemba’s plans face serious problems due to late player releases and paperwork delays. The team will travel to Lusaka without several key players who are still stuck at their clubs or dealing with visa issues abroad.
Speaking to the press, Odemba confirmed that two foreign-based players, Enez and Lillian, cannot join the squad. Work permit problems have stopped them from travelling. This is the second year running that these paperwork issues have blocked the players from international duty.
Odemba saved her strongest criticism for Simba Queens and other Tanzanian clubs. She claimed these teams send medical reports saying players are injured and unfit to play. However, the same players appear in league matches shortly after. “They decide who to release. We receive letters saying players are injured, but then we see them playing in the league. The communication has been very difficult,” Odemba explained.
Problems exist at home too. Local side Ulinzi Stars has also failed to send their players to camp on time. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Premier League has already finished, meaning local players lack match sharpness. This makes early training even more important.
To solve the shortage of players, Odemba has called up young striker Marion Serenge and attacker Violet Nanjala. She hopes to check their fitness levels during the short training period before departure. “Our league is over, so we have no competitive matches. We need players here early to prepare properly,” she said.
The Four Nations Tournament in Lusaka on June 6th and 9th will test the team against strong opponents. Odemba sees these matches as crucial preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). She urged the government to provide funds quickly so the team can hold an early training camp, possibly in France, before the continental championship.
“We want to do well in Zambia and learn where we stand. After that, we have very little time before WAFCON. We need this tournament to fix our problems,” Odemba stated. “Our goal remains clear. We want to qualify for the World Cup.”