With better support, Junior Starlets can do better

The U17 Kenya Women's national football team Junior Starlets at Nyayo Stadium on April 20, 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After Junior Starlets missing a chance to return to this year's Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco last week, it is time for concerned stakeholders to start working towards the 2026 qualifiers.

Kenya failed to rewrite history by qualifying for the global showpiece for the second time in a row after losing 3-1 to Cameroon in their return leg match last Friday at Olembe Stadium, Yaounde. Mildred Cheche's side went to West Africa trailing 1-0 from their first-leg encounter in Nairobi.

While the girls played their hearts out in both legs, it was evident they couldn't match the Cameroonians' physicality, with Junior Starlets' defensive lapses and profligacy upfront costing them a ticket to the World Cup slated for October 17 to November 8 in Morocco.

But the government and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) should quickly switch focus to providing an enabling environment and the support that the technical bench deserves to start scouting for new players across the country, starting with the upcoming school games.

Equally, the current team should not be disbanded but maintained, with those past the age bracket transitioning to the senior ranks (Rising Stars and Harambee Stars). It is only through such structures that the women's teams will continue flying the country's flag higher on both continental and global scenes. Despite being eliminated, the government and FKF should show some appreciation to the team for how far they have come. Remember, the girls tore Uganda apart with a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory in the previous round. That performance was no mean feat, and it indicates that the girls have what it takes to compete with the best in the world.

Additionally, to motivate the current crop of players, the government should either provide scholarships to the students or cater for their studies both locally and abroad. This is the best moment to implement former Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen's idea of integrating sports and education. The government can partner with reputable universities both locally and abroad to ensure the players can excel both in class and on the pitch.