Fired up Starlets to give their all in Dominica, says Ochaka

Junior skipper Elizabeth Ochaka has promised a good show at the 2024 FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup.

Junior Starlets, the first Kenyan side to qualify for a FIFA World Cup left the country on Thursday for a 11 - day training camp in Spain before heading to Dominican Republic where the global competition will be staged.

On Wednesday, President William Ruto flagged off 23 girls at State House for the global extravaganza, and Ochaka now feels fired up for the competition.

“It hasn’t been easy since we started the journey and now that we are finally here, I want to promise that we will give our all to ensure we that lift the trophy.  

"We understand the high level of the competition at the World Cup, but we believe the Spain camp will help us get ready for the tough opponents," she observed.

"I also want to thank the government through the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) which announced that it will prepare special Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations for eight players from the squad. This is a big morale boost ahead of the event,” added Ochaka.

Meanwhile, three players who had initially been dropped from the Starlets squad ahead of the camp in Spain will now be part of the travelling party to the Dominican Republic, after President William Ruto’s intervention.

Sheryl Amuok, Mitchelle Waithera and Claire Meris will travel with the team although they will not feature for the Junior Starlets.

The trio were missing from coach Mildred Cheche’s final squad of 23 to the Dominican Republic where they play England, North Korea and Mexico in Pool C.

“I know they made a huge contribution getting us here. They may not be in the team to play but as has been asked, I want them to be in the team that will accompany you. I wish for them to be part of this historic event as representatives of those who were part of this team but didn’t make it because it could only be a certain number. I wish it was more,” President Ruto said.

Starlets overcame Burundi with an aggregate 5-1 win in the fourth and last round of qualifiers in May this year to book their first-ever World Cup.

The finals will be staged in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3.

Starlets will open their campaign against England on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

Their opponents in the opener, Young Lionesses, have participated in the competition two times, with their best finish being in fourth place, in 2008.

Kenya will also take on two-time champions, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, who have participated in the competition seven times.