Starlets released to go home 21 days after CAF cancelled their qualifier against Uganda

It’s now official. Kenya’s national women football team, Harambee Starlets will not play Uganda in the Africa Womens’ Cup of Nations Cup (AWCON) qualifier whose first leg had been programmed for today in Kampala.

This is after several letters written by the Caretaker Committee to Confederation of African Football (CAF) contesting the withdrawal of the team by an official of the disbanded Football Kenya Federation (FKF), were not replied to.

In essence, Starlets, who have been in residence camp since January 26, have also lost a possible chance to participate in the Women World Cup for the first time ever as they had been highly tipped to be among the four teams in the biannual championships that would have secured a ticket for the same.

Uganda have earned a walkover on Kenya and will be battling to shine in AWCON slated for Morocco next July to be among the leading quartet that will have qualified for the global showcase that will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Consequently, Uganda’s Crested Cranes have qualified for AWCON without sweat at the expense of Kenya who have ruled the roost in the East African region for the last couple of years.

According to the original programme that has since been annulled following the development, The first leg of the tie was scheduled for today in Kampala with the second set for Nairobi on Sunday.

Withdrawal

In a communiqué detailing the withdrawal of Starlets in the qualifiers, the chairman of the caretaker committee Aaron Ringera said the decision was necessitated by an un-replied letter to Confederation of African Football protesting a decision to hand Uganda a walk-over.

The decision by CAF was informed by a letter Barry Otieno, the CEO of the disbanded Football Kenya Federation (FKF), sent to the Africa governing body that the federation was not viable to enter the team in the qualifiers after it was dissolved by the government over alleged financial impropriety.

Yesterday, Ringera said the committee had no choice but to disband Starlets camp even as he accused Otieno of sabotaging the team’s chances of playing at the highest level of the game.

Ringer further hinted that the committee has already written to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to grill Otieno over the incapacitation. However, Ringera came short of saying what kind of charges Otieno is likely to face though he continued chiding him for what has befallen Starlets.

“If these ladies got the chance, they were going to beat Uganda. We are going to have Under 17 and Cecafa coming soon and we don’t want to see this happening again,” he added.

On the flip side, Ringera confirmed that, despite the heat-break, all Starlet players have been paid their allowances amounting to Sh 5,000 per day for 21 days the team has been in camp.

This is in addition with other expenses amounting to Sh 7 Million on the background of a budget of Sh 39 Million.