Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has declared an ambitious plan of transitioning to the men’s national team, Harambee Stars in the future and also taking charge of an FKF Premier League side.This will thrust Odemba into the annuals of history as realising this feat would make her the first woman coach to achieve the two milestones.Odemba recently achieved a remarkable feat by guiding the Kenya Police Women’s team to an unbeaten league title in their inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, dethroning reigning champions Vihiga Queens. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8186095##Additionally, she led the Harambee Starlets to the final round of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualification, narrowly missing out to Botswana, who secured their spot in the upcoming tournament in Morocco.When asked about potentially coaching the men’s national team, Odemba underscored her current dedication to women’s football, while also expressing her dream of coaching in the FKF Premier League. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that coaching Harambee Stars would be a monumental achievement.“I am committed to elevating women’s football and aspire to contribute even more. While my ultimate dream is to coach a men’s Premier League team, leading a men’s national team would be a pinnacle in my career. I remain open to all possibilities and am steadfast in pursuing my ambitions,” Odemba affirmed in an interview with Citizen TV.Kenya Police provide transfer update on Kenneth Muguna with contract nearing conclusionReflecting on areas for improvement in the women’s league, Odemba stressed the need for matches to be hosted in better stadiums. “We need stadiums. We need good stadiums. We need to level up in women’s football, both for the sport and for our country. For the longest time, the Women’s Premier League has been played in primary schools, which is not conducive to the development of women’s football. We need proper structures in place to foster our development.”Next on Odemba’s agenda are the Zonal CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Ethiopia. The winners of these qualifiers will advance to the prestigious CAF Women’s Champions League. Notably, Vihiga Queens previously made history by participating in the inaugural edition in 2021, marking the region’s initial entry into the continental tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_8186103##She’s aiming for a strong performance in the qualifiers. “Of course, we want to perform well in the qualifiers and progress to the CAF Champions League; that is our main goal. The Champions League will also provide my players with a platform to showcase their skills and quality, and hopefully get good teams overseas.”The tactician’s coaching credentials have soared over the past two years, making her one of only two women in the country with a CAF A coaching license. Apart from coaching the national women’s team, she also leads the Kenya U-20 women’s team. Her coaching experience extends to handling the Highway Secondary School Boys’ team and various developmental teams in Nairobi, keeping her schedule packed.Kenya Police head coach Salim Babu responds to Tito Okello’s links to Indonesian club
