Harambee Starlets set for South Africa tie despite visa hitch

HARAMBEE STARLET VS KEMU QUEENS FRIENDLY MATCH KASARANI Harambee Starlet Wendy Achieng(R) and Judy Awuor of KeMU Queens battle for the ball during their friendly match at Kasarani Stadium on 05/07/15.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

The national women’s football team, Harambee Starlets, are due to face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana today just a few hours after landing in Johannesburg.

The team was scheduled to travel on Thursday morning, but due to visa hitches they were expected to fly out last night for the first leg of the third round of Rio 2016 qualifiers.

The match will be played at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto from 3pm and will be televised on SABC 1 with the return match expected by the end of the month at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Head coach David Ouma made two changes to the starting squad that beat the She Zebra’s of Botswana in the return leg of the second round of the qualifiers in Machakos.

Ouma has included Irene Oguto in the first team after Jacky Ogol was dropped while Caroline Anyango will replace experienced midfield maestro Tabaka Chacha who had a knock in a friendly match against league champions Thika Queens two weeks ago and couldn’t recover in time.

Anyango came in as a substitute in the return match and scored in the dying minutes to register a 2-2 aggregate score which enabled Kenya qualify to the a third round qualifier by the away goal rule.

Pauline Atieno who has earned experience from playing high profile matches with the Under-20 national team that was eliminated in the third round of the 2012 Fifa World Cup qualifiers will start between the sticks.

Ann Aluoch, Wendy Achieng, Irene Ogutu, Dorcas Shikobe will play at the back with Harriet Fakhiri, Esse Akida and Cheris Avilia in midfield role while captain Neddy Atieno, Caroline Anyango, Mary Kinuthia will be on attacking duties.

Vivian Akinyi, Maurine Ater, Inez Mango, Caroline Kiget, Tabaka Chacha, Sharon Komulo, Leila Apiyo, Veronica Wafula and Jeniffer Nyangaresi will start on the bench.

At the same time, Banyana Banyana’s Mamello Makhabane, Refiloe Jane, Roxanne Barker and Jermaine Seopesenwe will miss the encounter today.