Junior Starlets target convincing World campaign in Morocco

The upcoming friendlies in Spain will provide a final test before the squad travels to Morocco, while Cheche and her technical team will continue monitoring the players’ fitness and integrating Bakari when she joins the squad.

FILE: Junior Starlets coach Mildred Cheche instructs players during a training session with Junior Starlets in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania . Photo/Handout.

Kenya’s Junior Starlets are stepping up preparations for their second FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup appearance, with captain Berveline Awuor setting an ambitious target: go beyond their previous performance and challenge for a place in the final stages.

The Junior Starlets secured their place at the tournament after edging South Africa in the qualifiers in July, earning Kenya a second appearance at the global showpiece.

With the tournament approaching, head coach Mildred Cheche says the team has intensified its preparations, with the technical bench working to address areas identified through detailed analysis.

“We have been analysing the team and working on the areas that need improvement,” Cheche said.

The preparations will include a series of high-profile friendly matches in Spain, giving the players an opportunity to test themselves against different opposition while allowing the technical bench to assess the squad before the tournament.

“We will be having friendlies in Spain against high-profile teams such as Australia, Cardiff and Real Betis before the tournament starts,” Cheche said.

The matches will form an important part of Kenya’s final preparations as Cheche looks to fine-tune the squad ahead of the World Cup.

The team will also receive a boost with the return of Mwanakombo Bakari, who has been sidelined by injury. Cheche confirmed that Bakari is expected to join the squad on October 15.

“She will be able to join from the 15th of October,” Cheche said when asked about Bakari’s availability.

Her return will provide another option for the technical bench as the team prepares for a demanding group-stage campaign.

However, injuries have also disrupted Kenya’s preparations, with Rose Wangila and Lindey Atieno ruled out of the squad.

Despite the setbacks, the Junior Starlets remain focused on building a competitive team for the tournament.

Captain Berveline Awuor says the players have learned from their previous World Cup experience and are determined to improve this time around.

“We have learned from the previous tournament and we have worked on the areas we needed to,” Awuor said.

The captain insists the team is not travelling to Morocco merely to participate but to compete.

“We are ready to not only participate but also compete in this tournament,” she added.

Kenya will open its World Cup campaign against China on Monday, October 19, at the Women’s Football Complex, Pitch 1 in Morocco.

The Junior Starlets will then face the United States later in the week in another demanding Group-stage encounter.

The challenging schedule means Kenya will need a strong start, with every result likely to be crucial in the race to advance to the knockout stages.

For Awuor, the objective is straightforward: improve on the team’s previous showing and go further in the competition.

“Last time we won one match, this time we want to win more than one, and even reach the finals,” Awuor said.

Kenya’s qualification marks only the second time the country has reached the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. The Junior Starlets’ victory over South Africa in July secured another opportunity for a new generation of Kenyan players to compete on the global stage.

The upcoming friendlies in Spain will provide a final test before the squad travels to Morocco, while Cheche and her technical team will continue monitoring the players’ fitness and integrating Bakari when she joins the squad.

With the countdown underway, the Junior Starlets are aiming for more than another World Cup appearance. They want to turn the lessons of their first campaign into a deeper run and establish themselves among the tournament’s serious contenders.