Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma is confident of a good show as the team commenced preparations for the inaugural Cecafa Women's Tournament scheduled for September 11 to 20 in Jinja, Uganda.
The national side resumed residential camp at the Kasarani Stadium on Friday evening and had light training on Saturday at the same venue.
Speaking to Feverpitch yesterday, Ouma said the team had a successful outing in Valencia, Spain, during the fifth edition of Cotif Women's Football Tournament last month and the experience they got in Europe will be instrumental in Uganda.
“I am confident that we are on the right track as we prepare for the Cecafa tournament after assessing the players in our first training on Saturday. We are working on the mental strengths of players after the Spain trip where we won our two opening matches but lost three consecutive matches.
“Technically and tactically, the players are good but their mental strength is down. We evaluated our performance in Spain and want to work on the shortcomings,” he said.
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The tactician, who guided Harambee Starlets to their maiden Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) finals that is scheduled for November 19 to December 3 in Cameroon, has praised the team spirit in camp, saying the team has demonstrated a lot of growth since their qualification.
“There has been much growth since our AWCON qualification and there have been healthy competition among the playing unit. This is pushing players to do their best. The Cecafa tournament will be useful in gauging players ahead of our continental championship,” he said.
At the same time, defender Jackline Akoth, who features for Women Premier League side Makolanders FC, returns to the national team alongside Vihiga Queens centre back Lilian Adera. Nyakach Secondary School custodian Lilian Awour earned her maiden call up to the national team.
“We included the two defenders because we have had problems in the right back position. From the same position, we conceded goals in Spain and it was the same position from which we conceded a goal during our AWCON qualifiers against Algeria,” Ouma said.
