Beldine Odemba: Uncertainty Over Harambee Starlets Coach’s Future Amid Resignation Reports

The future of Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba has been thrown into doubt following reports that she has resigned just one week ahead of the CECAFA tournament.

Is she around or has she left? That is the question among Kenyan football fans concerning the position of Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba.

Odemba’s future has been the subject of speculation in the last few months after reports emerged that she could leave her position over a number of issues and now, there is conflicting information over her position.

According to Mozzart Sport, Odemba resigned from her position, leaving Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in disarray as she was expected to lead the team at the upcoming CECAFA Women’s Championships, which kicks off on June 14 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

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“This has brought some confusion because appointing a new coach requires the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The federation must also submit the final squad for the tournament by Monday. It’s a precarious situation, but we’ll handle it—there will be a solution,” a source well versed with the matter told Mozzart Sport.

What Has FKF Said Over Beldine Odemba’s Future?

However, when reached for confirmation over the issue, FKF denied knowledge of Odemba’s resignation.

“There is nothing official from our end. I do not have any knowledge of that. I have also seen it on social media,” FKF Communications Director Jeff Kinyanjui told Pulse Sports.

Odemba is said to have called it quits after guiding her team in Wednesday’s friendly match against Morocco, which Kenya lost 5-1, citing frustration due to lack of enough support, while there were reports of a go-slow ahead of their trip to North Africa over delay in payment of allowances owed to the players.

The tactician, who also handles Kenya Police Bullets, has been in charge for two years and came close to qualifying for the delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations before losing to Botswana in the final round of the qualifiers while she has led her team again to the decisive match for next year’s tournament with a two-legged clash against The Gambia in October set to decide their fate.

Starlets will face Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania at CECAFA with their opening match taking place on June 14 and it seems they will do it with a different name in the dugout.