President William Ruto has tipped history makers Junior Starlets to go and conquer the world in the FIFA U17 Women’s tournament in the Dominican Republic.
Ruto spoke highly of the team as he flagged them off at State House Nairobi yesterday.Sending the team out for an 11-day training camp and later on the Dominican Republic.
“Go and bring the trophy home,” Ruto told the bouyant girls of the nation.
“When the history of Kenyan football is written, your names will be inscribed in gold.It has taken us 60 years for us to be here. Some of you are probably 14-year-old meaning when we started this journey to seek world qualification you were not yet born. However,now you here taking us to the world,” Ruto added.
Further, the President delivered some good news to the three players who had failed to make it the list of 23 players traveling to Spain and the world Cup.
Ruto declared that the trio; Clare Meris (Kobala Secondary), Mitchelle Waithera (Acakoro Ladies) and Sheryl Amuok (Nyakach Secondary) to accompany the team as spectators.
“I know that there a lot of players who were part of the team in the qualifiers and because of the sporting merit some had to be left out, I wish the tournament could accommodate more. However, the three players as I have been informed by CS Murkomen will accompany you as spectators.”
Team skipper Elizabeth Ochaka expressed her gratitude to the head of state for the enormous support from qualifiers to this moment and promised to do everything humanly possible for better tidings abroad.
“The world journey has not been easy but we are glad that we are here living our dreams of playing at the top level. We going to give a good fight for our country and to come back with the trophy.It feels so nice even to be at the State House and to meet you your excellency the President, actually it is my first time to shake a president’s hand in my life,” Ochaka remarked.
Junior Starlets which is coached by Mildred Cheche was scheduled to jet out of the country on Thursday morning for Marbella,Spain where they set a high level training base for 11 days.
The team will embark on another journey to the Dominican Republic at the end of the month, ready for their first Group C challenge against England.Korea DPR and Mexico are Kenya’s other opponents in the group.
The 2024 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup kicks off on October 16 to November 3.
