Keep politics out of Junior Starlets, says FKF CEO Otieno

• Twelve players were dropped when Cheche named her final team with Claire Waithera, Mitshelle Waithera and Sheryl Amuok — who played in the qualifiers — the biggest casualties.

• He confirmed Junior Starlets will play three friendly matches in Spain with Portugal the highlight opponents on September 27, in Alicante, Spain, just before departure for the Caribbean island on October 1.

FKF CEO Barry Otieno has asked journalists, coaches and other stakeholders to keep off Junior Starlets and allow head coach Mildred Cheche to steer the ship.

Starlets are preparing for next month’s Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

A leaked ‘final squad’ on September 15, two days before Cheche named her travelling party to a pre-tournament training camp in Spain, led to uproar on social media with some accusing Cheche of ‘dropping important players’.

Twelve players were dropped when Cheche named her final team with Claire Waithera, Mitshelle Waithera and Sheryl Amuok — who played in the qualifiers — the biggest casualties.

While Amuok missed out due to a knee injury sustained during the East Africa School Games while representing Nyakach Girls in Uganda last month, Cheche explained that the rest didn’t feature in her plans due to fitness and tactical reasons.

Only striker Joy Angela Valencia, scouted during the secondary school games, is the new entrant.

“A player becomes a Kenyan international when in the coach’s squad and plans. Scouting is a long process and due to tactical reasons, fringe players and bench-warmers are always dropped, worldwide,” said Barry.

Some parents cried foul, claiming their daughters’ slots ‘were sold’. However, Otieno refutes the claims adding that the team will still be whittled down to 21, as per Fifa regulations.

“We’re talking to Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen to accommodate the two who will be dropped. This depends entirely on the availability of cash,” he added.

He confirmed Junior Starlets will play three friendly matches in Spain with Portugal the highlight opponents on September 27, in Alicante, Spain, just before departure for the Caribbean island on October 1.

The World Cup is set for between October 16 and November 3.

Speaking from Spain, Cheche they have acclimatised in Spain and are now working on psychological, technical and physical aspects of the game while enjoying world-class facilities.

Cheche, who won the President’s Award during the FKF gala on July 26 after guiding Starlets to first World Cup, targets the semi-final in their debut tournament.

Kenya, will open their campaign against England on October 18, battle North Korea on October 20 and conclude their Group ‘C’ fixtures against Mexico on October 24.

This year’s tournament marks the end of the 16-team system with a 24-team set to feature at the next edition in Morocco  — a first for Africa.

Champions Spain target a third-consecutive title after 2018 and 2022.

Kipyegon, Chebet honoured in New York for exemplary track performances

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 23 – Triple Olympics 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and double champion Beatrice Chebet were on Sunday awarded the Golden Plate award for their consistent excellent performances in athletics.

The two were feted by the Academy of Achievement at a ceremony at the Lincoln Plaza Centre in New York — an event attended by President William Ruto.

“The extraordinary honour is a solid tribute to your hard work, talent and dedication to athletics. No doubt, it will inspire upcoming athletes and help shape our country’s sports,” President Ruto said.

The award is given to outstanding individuals who have shone in their respective spheres of influence including sports, literature, arts, industry, public service, entertainment and business.

The awards are a just reward for the two athletes who have put Kenya on the world map with their achievements at the international level as well as inspiring many young female athletes.

Chebet clocked a world record of 28:54.14 to win the women’s 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25, which secured her place at the summer games in Paris.

The 5km world record holder then secured legendary status in Paris when she clocked 30:43.25 to win the women’s 10,000m – the first time a Kenyan has won the race in Olympics history.

Chebet then added the Olympics 5000m title to her medal cabinet when she timed 14:28.56 to cross the finish line first.

Meanwhile, it was the same old, same old for Kipyegon who recovered from her initial injury woes to set a world record of 3:49.04 in the women’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League in early July.

Her ‘love affair’ with the French capital continued at the summer games when she breezed to a third-ever Olympics title in the women’s 1500m — the first ever female athlete to do so.

Both athletes also dominated the Diamond League circuit where Kipyegon once again made history by win her fifth trophy.

Chebet, meanwhile, was heads and shoulders above other competitors, winning the women’s 5000m.

For Mila Pulse Sport

~ DAN~