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Kenya's Harambee Starlets: From Neglect to CECAFA Champions

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Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 1 min read

This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.

On November 26, 2019, Kenya's Harambee Starlets made history by winning the CECAFA Women's Championship, a testament to their determination and skill on the field.

Just a few months prior, the team was struggling to secure funding for their Olympic qualifiers, with the Ministry of Sports eventually intervening to provide the necessary support.

Despite this setback, the Starlets persevered and went on to dominate the CECAFA tournament, winning all their matches and keeping a clean sheet throughout.

According to player Mwanahalima Adam, the team's goal was to make up for their loss in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and they certainly achieved that.

With a 12-0 win over Djibouti and a 5-0 thrashing of Burundi in the semifinals, the Starlets were unstoppable.

However, the team's success has also highlighted the need for better support and motivation from the government and the Ministry of Sports.

As Mwanahalima Adam noted, a simple token of appreciation from the government, such as an invitation to State House, would go a long way in motivating the team to continue performing at their best.

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