The second coming and ultimate departure of eccentric Neddy Atieno: Harambee Starlets in 2021

National women football team Harambee Starlets have had a rather uneventful year in terms of match activities.

When the senior women took to the field in the only competitive outing Kenyan girls were in devastating form, tearing apart South Sudan's Bright Starlets to set up a mouthwatering encounter with next door rivals Uganda.

Covid-19 took a toll on the women's team, forcing their first action of the year, a friendly match that had been planned against Zambia to be called off in April despite the team getting vaccinated in readiness for the match.

The postponement of the Zambia friendly was followed up by the hasty and inexplicable departure of David Ouma from the position of head coach on mutual consent, and his place taken by Charles Okere.

The qualifiers for the main continental event were scheduled to take place in June initially but was pushed forward to October thanks to covid-19 and its repercussions.

Before Harambee Starlets took to the pitch, their siblings, Rising Starlets suffered in the hands of Uganda during the FIFA U20 Women World Cup Qualifiers in which they were given a massive 7-2 beating at home and a slightly reasonable 3-1 loss away in Uganda.

Harambee Starlets might have had a dull year in terms of activities, managing to play only two matches all year, but they had the most exciting results in the two matches that they played in 2021 compared to their male counterparts.

In the two matches against South Sudan in the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers, Starlets managed to hit 15 goals, conceding only two in the process.

With the results from the two matches, the Charles Okere led side is one game away from booking a slot to the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco, a thrilling match against neighbors Uganda awaits in February.

Therefore, when Harambee Starlets meet with Uganda, they will be out to avenge their little sisters which perhaps adds more fuel to the intensity of the match besides the AWCON ticket.

The return of Neddy Atieno

After a lengthy hiatus in the cold, Neddy Atieno finally made a return to Harambee Starlets squad despite her stay in her second coming being short-lived.

Before being called up for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against South Sudan the forward was last with the team in July 2018 during the CECAFA tournament where they finished a disappointing fourth and has been away from the team since then.

Atieno announced her return to the national team with a bang, putting Harambee ahead in the first minute in the match against South Sudan, and went on to score three more goals as Kenya walloped their neighbors 8-0 in the first leg, and had one to her name in the return leg at the same venue.

However, the Ulinzi Starlets forward hung her boots at the end of the previous campaign and will not be part of the second round qualifier against Uganda.

A big 2022 awaits!