Kenya’s girl wonder picks Fifa U-17 World Cup over KCSE

For close to one month now, there has been a public debate on the fate of nine Junior Starlets’ players regarding the choice between remaining in the country to write their KCSE exams or going to the Fifa Women’s U-17 World Cup in October, a stage where Kenya will be competing for the first time.

The 2024 Fifa Women’s U-17 World Cup, to be staged in the Dominican Republic, is scheduled to kick off on October 16 and run until November 3, while this year’s KCSE is set to commence on October 22 and continue until November 22.

After sealing qualification with a remarkable victory against Burundi at the Ulinzi Sports Complex last month, the Ministry of Sports, together with the Football Kenya Federation, had promised to strike a deal with the Ministry of Education for the rescheduling of KCSE exams for the concerned players.

However, with no resolution reached at this moment, one star player from the Junior Starlet team, Marion Musanga Serenge (pictured), has made the significant decision to choose the World Cup over exams.

The speedy forward, who contributed two goals in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Burundi, says the decision to prioritize the global games was overwhelming but was reached after consultation with her parents.

“For me, I am choosing to go to the World Cup because such opportunities come once in a lifetime, as compared to KCSE exams, which can be done next year. It was a difficult decision, but I consulted my parents about it, and my dad told me that I would rather go to the World Cup,” Musanga told People Sport.

Her father, Fred Serenge, a former Harambee Stars player, says playing at the World Cup will have a greater impact on his daughter, considering that it is a milestone achievement for Kenya.

“It is a great accomplishment, according to me, since it is the first time Kenya will compete at the World Cup.”

He further says that as a family, they have settled on the World Cup, overlooking the exams aspect for now, although noting that it is a sensitive matter for parents or guardians in the same situation.

“The exam matter is a sensitive issue because, as a parent, you invest in a child to be able to go to school and at least secure their future. However, the exams can be done at any other time, in my opinion. I don’t think it should be an issue at this moment. I tend to believe that these are candidates who have taken much of their time in camp, they have done their duty for the country, and the same government should reciprocate by ensuring that the players do their exams. They have mechanisms that can be put in place for special exams.”