Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba resigns
National women’s football team, Harambee Starlets, head coach Beldine Odemba has resigned, Nation Sport understands.
Multiple sources within Football Kenya Federation and close to Odemba confirmed her resignation, which follows a 5-1 loss to hosts Morocco in an international friendly played last Wednesday in Tangier.
While FKF General Secretary Harold Ndege denied receiving formal communication from Odemba, FKF National Executive Committee members, who did not wish to be quoted, confirmed she had submitted her resignation letter.
“I have not received any communication (formal or informal) from the coach concerning that,” Ndege told Nation Sport via text message on Monday.
Odemba, who is also the head coach of two-time FKF Women’s Premier League champions, Kenya Police Bullets, did not respond to our calls and texts on both of her two official phone numbers.
Despite Ndege’s remarks, reports indicate that FKF has already begun preparing for her replacement ahead of the Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup, which starts on Thursday in in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kenya’s first match is against Burundi on Saturday.
Junior Starlets assistant coach David Bujego has reportedly been tapped to step in as head coach. Mathare United Women’s head coach and former Kenya international, Ann Aluoch, is expected to serve as his assistant.
Ex-Starlets coach Alex Alumirah is also tipped to return in a dual role as second assistant and technical assistant.
However, Bujego said he has not been formally approached for the role.
“I haven’t been contacted about the job; I saw the reports on social media just like everyone else,” he stated on Sunday after guiding his team to a 2-0 FKF Women’s Cup semifinal victory against Kenya Police Bullets at Dandora Stadium in Nairobi.
He added: “But if given the opportunity, I will take it. It’s every coach’s dream to lead a national team, and I would take the job with two hands to demonstrate my abilities.”
A source close to the federation noted that some members of the technical bench will remain for continuity.
“Some of the mentioned coaches have been called to assist. A few technical bench members will remain for continuity. It’s all about player relationships. Also, the 5-1 loss was due to the players being demoralised due to delayed payments, but that issue is being resolved,” said the anonymous source.
Odemba, a CAF-A licensed coach, was appointed on September 8, 2023, under the previous FKF regime, succeeding coach Godfrey Oduor.
She led Starlets to a historic victory over the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, securing a 4-3 penalty win in the first round of 2024 Wafcon qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium. The loss marked the first time since 1991 that Cameroon failed to qualify for the continental showpiece.
Despite the upset over Cameroon, Starlets fell short in the next round, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Botswana and missing out on qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Starlets are set to enter camp this week ahead of the regional tournament.
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