Starlets face Uganda in Cecafa tie today

Harambee Starlets train ahead of CECAFA Championship to be held in Uganda over the weekend at Kasarani Sports Centre on Thursday, Sept 8, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The regional rivalry between Kenya and Uganda will go a notch higher today when the two nations clash in this year’s Cecafa Women tournament at the FUFA Technical Centre Njeru in Jinja.

Harambee Starlets will take on the Crested Cranes of Uganda in the second match of the day from 4pm after the tournament’s opener between Burundi and Zanzibar at 2pm in a Group A fixture.

This will be the second time the teams clash in a span of three months. In an international friendly match, Harambee Starlets picked a resounding 4-0 win.

Commenting on the preparations, Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma said the team has prepared well enough to challenge any opponent.

“We have had two training sessions since we landed here on Friday morning. We trained on Friday evening to acclimatise. The team has responded well and they are sharp. We trained in the natural field but we will go to the artificial turf to feel it before our opening match.

“We cannot train at the artificial turf for now because teams are sharing and that is not good for us. I prefer closed door training and I don’t think training in a natural ground will affect the team,” Ouma said.

At the same time, the tactician has included former Kenyan international Dorine Nabwire who is the current Harambee Starlets team manager to his 20-member squad.

“Dorine has been training with the team and she is among the 20 listed players eligible to take part in the tournament,” Ouma said.