Is Beldine Odemba the mistress of multitasking?

In addition to her role as the Harambee Starlets and Rising Starlets coach, the gaffer also guides Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) side Kenya Police Bullets and Highway Academy.

Speaking to Citizen Digital after guiding Rising Starlets to whitewash Angola 6-1 in FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup first-leg qualifier played at the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, the tactician said that multitasking is an art she has mastered pretty well.

 “All these teams have different playing times. For example as we speak Kenya Police is done with pre-season training and we have been excused from this weekends fixtures since seven of our (Rising Starlets) players play for Soccer Assassins, our league opener competitors. I have an able assistant coach so when I go back to the camp I find the tem ready.

"Also, the FIFA calendar is seasonal, so after these U-20 matches, things will be calm and we return to normal. I will therefore have adequate time for Premier League. I attend to the school every day in the evening, but it is very manageable," she said.

On September 26, she led  Starlets to turn tables on Cameroon and qualified for the second and final round of the 2024 Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers by edging them 4-3 in a post-match shootout of the return fixture staged at Nyayo National Stadium.

The Starlets were bouncing back from 1-0 defeat in the hand of West African giants in the first leg played in Douala. Weeks later, their fine form continued when rising starlets humbled Angola 6-1.

If Rising Starlets were to qualify for the World Cup and the senior side Harambee Starlets also seal a ticket to the next WAFCON edition, it would be interesting to see how the first Kenyan woman to lead the two sides at the same time would tackle the two roles alongside the Police Premier League duties.

Commenting on the matter, a fellow Kenyan coach who preferred anonymity said it will he hard for Odemba to continue registering good results of she holds onto the multiple roles.

"She has started off impressively with Rising and Harambee Starlets and that is something Kenyans would want to see. Beating a team like Cameroon sets the bar too high, and to sustain the spark, you need to get everything right.

"I think one or two roles would give her a room to concentrate and do better, especially with the national teams  However, we cannot rule out completely the possibility of flourishing in the multiple roles, but that would be crazily extraordinary to me," the coach explained.