Harambee Starlets coach Ouma clings to away goal after defeat in Botswana

Harambee Starlet Coach David Ouma give instructions during the team's training at Kasarani in preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers tournament to be held in Botswana this weekend, May 19th, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

National women’s football team, Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma says the away goal they scored on Friday will be a big advantage in the return leg.

The team takes on the Zebras of Botswana in the return match of the fourth edition of the CAF women’s Olympic 2016 qualifying tournament in two weeks in Nairobi. They  lost the first leg 2-1 in Botswana on Friday.

Despite the defeat at Lobatse Sports Complex, the tactician believes his side will recover in the second leg saying they will rectify the mistakes they committed in the first leg encounter.

“We prepared for nine days ahead of this encounter. The girls did not play well especially in the first half but recovered in the second half when we contained our opponents and managed to get the goal.

Botswana played long balls and miscommunication led to us conceding the first goal, but the second goal was scored from an offside position.

“The match official denied us a clear goal in the first half and a penalty in the second half,” he said. “Botswana are physical compared to us but we will use ball possession to unlock their solid defence. “The most important thing is to go back to camp as early as possible and prepare for the second leg,” said Ouma.

Ahead of the encounter, the hosts played a friendly match against Banyana Banyana of South Africa  and lost by a solitary goal.

The head coach Gaolethoo Nkutwisang said the match helped her side prepare well to face Kenya.

“It is a good result for us. We dominated the first half but missed a lot chances too. We are now focusing on the second leg in Nairobi,” she said.

Refilwe Tholakea who plays for Meat Girls and Lesego Keleboge of Prisons scored for the home team while Mary Kinuthia netted a consolation for the Starlets.

The return leg match will be played at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos with the winner of the round playing against the winner between Gabon and South Africa.