Why Harambee Starlets coach Godfrey Oduor quit without taking charge of a match
Harambee Starlets head coach Godfrey ‘Solo’ Oduor has stepped down six months into his reign and without taking charge of a match, Nairobi News can confirm.
The departure comes two weeks after he was appointed coach of Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) side Nzoia Sugar.
In his new role at the Bungoma based Nzoia, Oduor, an ex- Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) assistant coach, takes over from Salim Babu who quit at the end of the 2022/2023 FKF Premier League season to join money bags Kenya Police FC as assistant trainer.
At Nzoia, Oduor commenced the 2023/24 league season on a high after masterminding a 2-1 win over Ulinzi Stars at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma.
“I won’t be with the team as the head coach ahead of the two legged qualification round for the 2024 Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON) next month. I stepped down because I have another assignment far away from the city. I want to switch my full focus to Nzoia Sugar,” he told Nairobi News.
“Handling the national team is a different ball game. This is a full time job that requires full attention. Starlets will now have a new coach after I mutually agreed with the federation (to leave),” added Oduor.
Oduor leaves without stepping at the touchline after a planned friendly against Albania in Tirana in April 2023 was called off owing to logistical challenges.
Oduor’s replacement will have his hands full.
In a draw conducted on July 5, 2023 in Morocco, Starlets were paired against Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in a two-legged fixture for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers.
The winner between Kenya and Cameroon will later face the winner between Gabon and Botswana.
The battle of the second leg will be played between November 27 and December 5, 2023.
The winner will then book a ticket to the continental competition that will be held in Morocco 2024.
Starlets will begin the first leg in Cameroon on September 22, 2023 and later host the West African giants on September 26, 2023.
Harambee Starlets are expected to report to camp on September 10, 2023.
Junior Starlets and Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) side Kenya Police Bullets head coach Beldine Odemba is likely to take over as head coach.
Starlets lost the opportunity to qualify to the 2022 Wafcon after they failed to play a two-legged fixture against the Crested Cranes of Uganda last year.
The first leg was scheduled for February 17 in Kampala and the return leg on February 22 in Nairobi.
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