Kenyan defender ‘Calabar’ makes rallying call to Harambee Starlets
Kenya international David ‘Calabar’ Owino has challenged the national women football team to confound skeptics when they make their debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in November.
Speaking during an appearance on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa Show in South Africa, Owino dared the Starlets players to “do emulate Zesco United” at the eight team competition”.
“Our girls have performed wonders and all the fans at home are proud of their efforts. They will be underdogs (at the Nations Cup) but so was Zesco United when the CAF Africa Champions League season started this season. They should go there and continue working hard. You never know,” Owino said.
ZAMBIAN CHAMPIONS
The Starlets, who are fresh from securing a second place finish at the inaugural Cecafa Women Championship in Uganda, have been pooled alongside multiple African champions Nigeria, Ghana and Mali in Group B of the tournament which will be hosted by Cameroon.
The Zesco United defender was speaking before his club’s 2-0 defeat to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns that saw the Zambian champions lose the semifinal tie of the Caf African Champions League 3-2 on aggregate.
Zesco United which is also home to two other Kenya internationals, midfielder Anthony Akumu and forward Jesse Were, are still in the running to retain the Zambian league title for the third season running.
Were, who has scored 13 league goals this season, is among the hot favourites to clinch the golden boot.