Ulinzi Starlets forward Neddy Atieno is delighted to be back to the national team Harambee Starlets following her recent call up ahead of the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against South Sudan.The forward was last with the team in July 2018 during the CECAFA tournament where they finished a disappointing fourth and has been away from the team since then.FKF recall frenetic Neddy Atieno to Harambee Starlets years after banishmentAtieno helped Ulinzi Starlets to a second-place finish in Zone A of the league behind Thika Queens and also steered the team to win the inaugural FKF Women’s Cup, exploits that saw Charles Okere include her in the provisional Harambee Starlets squad after three years in the cold.”I am happy for the call up, it had been a long time since 2018. There is positive energy in camp. The last time I was here was we qualified for AWCON but against Equitorial Guinea we tried but failed. This time it is a do or die. We set the record so we should maintain it. I am here to encourage the young talents to tell them that it can be done no matter what. I promise the fans to believe in us, we shall go to do our usual things as you know. We always make Kenya proud till the last minute. AWCON here we come,” she said.Neddy is upbeat ahead of the upcoming qualifiers, noting that the team spirit in the camp is high after just a few days.“It is a great feeling to be back with the team. Being in camp for the last four days, I can say that the team is motivated and are risk takers which I believe is a key ingredient towards attaining a positive result against South Sudan. With the knowledge and tactics gained during the training sessions, I hope to transcend it to the field that will, in the long run, help us attain a positive result,” she added as quoted by FKF.In the absence of some of the key players at the national team including Mwanahalima Dogo Adam, Dorcas Shikobe, and Ruth Ingosi, the inclusion of Neddy will come in handy to give a perfect blend between experienced players and youthful players.Harambee Starlets set to miss defensive duo for South Sudan clashWhile Dogo and Shikobe have not joined the team in training owing to club commitment, Ingosi is set to travel back to Cyprus after a request by her club owing to logistical challenges that could arise in the event that she does not re-enter the country with the next couple of days.
