Purring Cheche backs Junior Starlets to reach U-17 FIFA World Cup knockouts

Junior Starlets tactician Mildred Cheche has tipped her side to reach the knockout stage of the 2024 FIFA U-17 women's World Cup that will be held in the Dominican Republic between October 16 and November 3, 2024.

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 continental showpiece to be hosted in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November appearance at the quadrennial games.

Speaking at the Kasarani Anex on Tuesday after a training session, Cheche banked their tournament prospects on thorough planning, with the team set to leave for Spain on Thursday for their final preparations before heading to the Dominican Republic on October 1.

“Playing internationally is very different from paying regionally, including East Africa, but now they are going to play against the best of the best in the World Cup, and we need them prepared.

“The Spain camp will help the girls a lot to gain experience, considering that they will gauge themselves against the best teams in the country, and I believe we shall shock the world despite being underdogs ahead of the World Cup.

“Our target is to reach the round of 16 stage, and being underdogs, I take it as an advantage because no one knows how we play.”

The final 23 traveling squads from the 35 provisional squads will be named today.

Kenya is pooled in Group C alongside England, the Korean Republic, and Mexico in the World Cup.

Starlets are debuting in the competition and 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 have a tough time facing two-time champions, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, who have participated in the competition seven times.

“I’m very happy to be among the players to take part in the World Cup.

“This is a dream come true because while I was young, I heard of big teams like Brazil and Spain participating and winning the World Cup, and I don’t believe we are here to participate.

“We shall do our best and manage a good position,” said Starlets striker Velma Awuor.

The national side, however, has been handed a major boost ahead of the competition as the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced on August 22 that it will prepare special Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations for eight players from the squad.

KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere in a letter to the Ministry of Sports announced the decision following a request from the latter to grant 8 players who are among the students expected to sit for national exams in the next two months, to be offered special examination.

Korea DPR has reached the World Cup finals on three occasions and won the title at the 2008 and 2016 editions.

Junior Starlets will also be seeking to prove their metal against Mexico, who have made six appearances in the competition, finishing as runners-up in 2018.