Harambee Starlets interim head coach Godfrey Oduor/ HANDOUTNew Harambee Starlets interim coach Godfrey Oduor plans to reshape the senior women’s national team around competition, patience and opportunities for emerging players as he begins his tenure with the 2028 Olympic qualification campaign.
Oduor, who takes charge of Starlets for the first time, wants to move away from hurried play and build a side capable of forcing opponents into mistakes while remaining disciplined enough to wait for the right openings.
“I like a crop of players who let the opponents make the mistake. It is demanding because you have to force results,” Oduor said. The tactician also intends to widen the pool of players available to the national team, with competition for places a key part of his plans.
He has already named a 43-player provisional squad for the first-round Olympic qualifier against Seychelles, with five players receiving maiden senior call-ups.
Kayole Starlets defender Hellen Ochieng and forward Magneta Ocharo, Madira Soccer Assassins defender Abigael Njeru, Gideon Starlets midfielder Mercyline Wafula and Vihiga Queens midfielder Josephine Warenga are among the new faces.
Experienced players Jentrix Shikangwa and Corazone Aquino have also returned after missing the squad that represented Kenya at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Oduor believes this blend of experience and new talent can create a healthier competitive environment within the team.
“We have to get our acts right and put in the results. Confidence, competition and humility are the positives to give a player,” he said. Rather than relying on a fixed group of established players, Oduor wants performance to determine who gets opportunities, while also turning Starlets into a platform for players to raise their profile.
“Our play going forward will not just be coming and going. We hope to give a chance to the players as much as we can, for them to get some honour,” he said. The coach is also keen to strengthen the relationship between the national team and clubs, recognising that Starlets’ future will depend on a steady supply of players from both the domestic league and foreign-based teams.
“Cooperation is good with the clubs. It is all about the competition,” Oduor said. His plans come as Kenya seeks to build on the progress made by the Junior Starlets, who recently qualified for and competed at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Oduor, however, insists the senior team must establish its own identity rather than simply following the junior side's achievements. “The U-17, who managed to qualify and play up to the World Cup, have a different competition. The senior team is equal to the task. We have to get our acts right,” he said.
The first test of Oduor’s rebuilding project comes against Seychelles, with Kenya hosting both legs at Nyayo National Stadium on October 8 and 12. The winner will advance to the next stage of the African qualification campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
