Head coach Beldine Odemba is hoping for a fine start when Harambee Starlets tackle Botswana today afternoon in the first leg of the final round of the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers.
Odemba however took the pressure off the shoulders of the Starlets urging the squad to remain ‘calm’ during the high-stakes clash where the winner of the two-legged affair will qualify directly for WAFCON finals to be held in Morocco.
“There is no pressure starting at home or away. We are going to give it our best wherever we play and I can say the girls are optimistic and we are up to it.
“What I can say is that there is no team that is not beatable. They might have made better strides than us in recent times but we are in a race,” asserted Odemba.
The Starlets boss will have a near full-house squad after Sheril Angachi and Slavia Prague’s Marjolene Nekesa passed late fitness tests.
The return leg will be held on December 5 in Botswana’s capital Gaborone.
Starlets captain Ruth Ingosi also downplayed any pressure within the camp.
“It is a big assignment to us as players because the coaches and technical bench have done their part so it’s up to us to make sure we go out there and get the win.
“There is zero pressure in the camp and we don’t want the fans to wait too long. We want to make them happy by making sure we get the win,” said Ingosi.
Starlets will be buoyed by the home support after gate charges were waived in an attempt to rally fans and also promise a token of Sh. 5 million by Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, should they punch a ticket to the Wafcon finals.
By Stephen Awino