Beldine Odemba: FKF Clears the Air on Future of Harambee Starlets Coach

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed has weighed in on the speculation regarding the future of Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba.

Odemba’s position has been reported to be uncertain since last year with some unverified claims that she does not have a valid contract while others claimed the federation had decided to part ways with her.

However, she has stayed in the position and steered Kenya to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2016 with the tournament set to be staged in Morocco in August, having been postponed early this month.

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“The coach is with the national team, we have different engagements with different staff at different levels and we need to stay away from responding to bloggers and hearsay,” Mohammed said on Citizen TV.

“I have a policy when it comes to the technical bench, I don’t interfere at all. You are appointed on merit and you are judged on performance. I don’t influence the appointment of coaches and players into the national team.

“This way, you give autonomy to the coach to make those decisions and they are held accountable. If you interfere in these matters, then you cannot hold them accountable.”

Asked whether the Starlets coach has a valid contract, the FKF boss did not answer directly but insisted Odemba remains employed by the federation.

“Right now, the coach is in office with her technical bench, she is on payroll at FKF and if there are any changes, the technical team will advise,” added Mohammed. “She is on the payroll so that means she is an employee of the federation.”

Odemba has been in charge of the Starlets since September 2023 and after narrowly missing out on WAFCON 2024, she secured qualification for this year’s tournament.