Several Kenyan U17 players who participated in the U17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic could soon move to Europe and the U.S. to advance their professional football careers, according to coach Mildred Cheche.Kenya made their World Cup debut but exited at the group stage after two losses, 2-0 to England and 3-0 to North Korea, before finishing with a historic 2-1 victory over Mexico. This win not only marked Kenya’s first appearance at a World Cup but also made the Junior Starlets the first Kenyan football team to score and win at the global tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_8457002##There could be more opportunities ahead for the players, as scouts from the Chicago Red Stars and Atletico Madrid Academy were impressed by some of Kenya’s talents and have expressed interest in staying in touch with the coaching staff.Notable players from the tournament include Lorna Faith, who scored and was named MVP in the match against Mexico; Marion Serenge; Valarie Nekesa; Halima Imbachi; Lorine Ivalonga; and Rebecca Odato, among others.”The players caught the attention of scouts from Chicago Red Stars and Atletico Madrid Academy during the tournament. The scouts promised to keep in touch after the tournament, but I won’t go into the details,” Cheche said following Kenya’s exit.How Ibrahim Wanzala utilised Kenya Under-20 bonuses to improve his family’s fortunesReflecting on Kenya’s overall performance, Cheche acknowledged the difficulty of their first two matches, citing the strength of their opponents.”The initial games were tough as we faced strong teams like England and North Korea. However, we adapted well and performed better against Mexico, particularly in areas like speed and finishing our chances,” she explained.Cheche concluded by urging the government and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to continue supporting the team, advocating for more international exposure.”I appeal to the government and FKF to keep investing in these talented girls by organizing more international matches. These opportunities will help them improve and be better prepared for next year’s qualifiers,” she said.The team has already returned to Kenya.Bandari defender shares how Joseph Okumu became his football mentor
