Three requests Kenya U17 coach made to President Ruto after FIFA World Cup qualification
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 14.07.26. | 20:33
The Junior Starlets were hosted by President Ruto at State House on Tuesday, 14 July, following their successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche used the team's State House breakfast with President William Ruto to make three heartfelt requests after guiding Kenya to a second FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
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Cheche, who has now become the first Kenyan coach to qualify a national football team for two FIFA World Cups, appealed for government support to ensure the team's success becomes sustainable rather than a one-off achievement.
The Junior Starlets were hosted by President Ruto at State House on Tuesday, 14 July, following their successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco after beating South Africa 5-1 on aggregate.
Addressing the President, Cheche first thanked the government and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for supporting the team throughout the qualification campaign.
"Your Excellency, thank you for inviting us to this wonderful breakfast. As the head coach of the national U17 team, we really thank you for the invite. First of all, I want to thank you for supporting our team.
It has not been easy; from the beginning of this journey, we have had the support of the government and the federation, and now we are here, we have qualified," she said.
She then outlined her ambitions for the upcoming World Cup, insisting Kenya is targeting more than just participation.
"We are going to compete at the World Cup, and we want to go beyond the group stages. Once we go beyond the group stages, I have with me a technical bench that is very formidable. These men and women have done really well. Taking a team to the World Cup twice is not easy,” the confident tactician said.
Cheche's first appeal was for members of her technical bench to be offered government contracts, arguing that stability would enable them to continue developing young talent and make World Cup qualification a regular achievement.
"Mr President, my first request would be, please see that they have a contract with the government that they may continue to nurture talents every single day, and the World Cup will be a routine for the bench,” she started.
Her second request focused on two members of the technical team who serve in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Cheche singled out team doctor Edith Macharia and former Ulinzi Stars centre-back George Omondi, both KDF officers who have played key roles in the Junior Starlets' historic journey.
Macharia serves as the official team doctor for the national under-17 side, while Omondi is part of the technical bench after his playing career with Ulinzi Stars.
"Second, I have two KDF officers: Edith and George. Mr President, they have served this country faithfully and willfully, and I would ask, please, see that they get a promotion because taking a team to the World Cup twice is not something that has happened in this country," Cheche appealed.
Cheche concluded by asking the President to consider helping the players and technical staff benefit from the government's affordable housing program.
She noted that many members of the squad and coaching team come from humble backgrounds and would greatly benefit from home ownership.
"Lastly, as our captain has said, most of the players and coaches do not come from well-off families, but through your projects; the affordable housing in different parts of the country, with your blessing, please see to it that every member of the technical bench and the players, at least get a house through your blessing,” she concluded.
Kenya earned qualification to the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after another outstanding campaign under Cheche.
The Junior Starlets received a first-round bye before comfortably defeating Uganda 5-0 on aggregate, including a commanding 3-0 victory at Nyayo National Stadium in the second leg.
They then recovered from a narrow first-leg defeat to Cameroon to book a place in the final qualification round.
Against South Africa's Bantwana, Kenya secured a crucial 2-0 away victory in Pretoria before sealing qualification with a 3-1 win in Nairobi. Despite conceding in the fifth minute, second-half goals from Gaudancia Maloba, Brenda Awuor and Elizabeth Alizeba completed a 5-1 aggregate triumph.
The result confirmed Kenya's second appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, following the nation's historic debut at the 2024 tournament in the Dominican Republic.