Celebrated women football tutor Alex Alumira is the new Harambee Starlets head coach taking over from Charles Okere as the team prepares to take on Uganda’s Crested Cranes for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) Alumira who has guided Vihiga Queens to three Women Premier League (WPL) titles will be assisted by former Harambee Starlets players Ann Aluoch and Benta Achieng currently coaching Mathare Women in Division One and Thika Queens respectively. The team will be managed by Martha Karimi. It is a great honor and I look forward to guiding this team to the best of my ability, and with the full support of the FKF CC, we shall guide this team to AWCON qualification – Alex Alumira #HarambeeStarlets pic.twitter.com/nEqFJtrHZP— FKFcaretaker (@FKFcaretaker) January 24, 2022 “The coach and the technical bench were recruited after a highly competitive process that entailed oral and written tests and we believe we have the best from that exercise. Their term runs until our mandate as the Caretaker Committee expires which will be around May,” said Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee chair Aaron Ringera.Okere was appointed last year in April, taking over from long serving tactician David Ouma who had guided the side in their first ever AWCON appearance.”The recruitment process has been very transparent and competitive, and our new coach is Mr. Alex Alumira.” – Ringera— FKFcaretaker (@FKFcaretaker) January 24, 2022 Harambee Starlets are set to play neighbors Uganda on February 16, 2022 away before staging the return leg a week later in Nairobi for a ticket to this year’s AWCON set for July this year.”We have a tough job ahead as Uganda are a very competitive side and this match carries alot of weight for the country. The last time we played against Uganda in CECAFA we won but they have shown massive improvement in most recent outing. We have our work cut out but the talent is there to handle any challenge thrown at us. We already have a team in place so only few changes will be made in that squad,” offered Alumira.FKF caretaker committee appoints Alex Alumira as Harambee Starlets coach, assisted by Anne Aluoch and Benta Achieng; Martha Karemi named team manager.— Kenneth Ngure (@KennethNgure3) January 24, 2022 Kenya advanced to the second round after seeing hammering South Sudan in a two-legged clash staged at Nairobi for both legs, winning 8-0 in the first leg as hosts and 7-1 as the visiting team to complete a 15-goal haul on aggregate.Starlets last faced bitter rivals Uganda’s Crested Cranes in the final group A match at the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Women’s Championship in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, winning 3-0 to book a date with Burundi in the semi final. Alex Alumira at a glance Work Experience2021: Head Coach, Tiger Queens (Tanzania)2019: Assistant Coach, Vihiga United (National Super League and Kenyan Premier League)2018: Head Coach, Harambee Starlets Select (Team B)2018-2021: Volunteer coach Madira Girls High School 2015 – 2017: Technical Advisor, Ibinzo Girls2013-2021: Head Coach, Vihiga Queens FC2011-2013: Assistant Coach, Vihiga All Stars (National Super League)2008 – 2018: Head Coach and Teacher of Computer and Maths at Friends School KIgama High2008-2015: Head Coach – Chavakali United Talent AcademyQualifications, Training and University EducationAcademics: Masinde Muliro University alumniTraining: Salt Factory Game Intelligence, Integration of Modern Technology in Training and Holistic Player Development Football for Friendship Key Aspects of Sports Managementin Children’s football, values and how ro train mixed teamsCertificates– Fifa Diploma in Football Medicine– CAF C Diploma– Life Skills coach for women team coaches (KNVB)– Arsenal FC Coaching Course (Talent Identification)– Arsenal FC Coaching Course (Goalkeeping and Defence Skills)– CAF D Diploma– KNVB Advance Honours2021: Prepared Vihiga Queens for the Cecafa which they won after he left for Tanzania2019: Won the Kenya Women’s Premier League Vihiga Queens TB Man of the Year Award2018: Won the Kenya Women’s Premier League Coach of the Year Award – Vihiga Queens Magharibi Awards Coach of the Year Top 4 Soya Nominee for the Coach of the Year Award2017 Won the Kenyan Women Premier League Coach of the Year, Vihiga County (VSSSA)2016 Runner-up in the Kenyan Women’s Premier League2014-2015 Won Division One League in debut seasonStats at Vihiga Queens-2021Games in Charge – 18Won – 16Drew – 1Lost – 1-2019Games in Charge – 28Won – 26Drew – 1Lost — 1-2018Games in Charge – 30Won – 28Drew – 1Lost – 1-2017Games in Charge – 15Won – 14Lost – 1-2016Games in Charge – 15Won – 13Drew – 1Lost – 1-2014-2015Games in Charge – 12Won – 11Lost — 1Coaching Philosophy: “Women football is about learning. Coaching women football is about teaching both by action and by example. I coach women football to challenge players to develop life skils, ethics and moral awareness, and fitness knowledge.” – Alex Lusioli Alumirah
