Harambee Starlets Coach Beldine Odemba Attributes SJAK Award Win to Key Factor Following WAFCON Qualification

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has expressed deep gratitude after being named the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month for October, dedicating the award to her players and technical staff for their collective effort in helping Kenya return to the continental stage.

The recognition comes on the back of Kenya’s qualification for the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), marking the team’s return to the tournament after a nine-year absence.

Speaking after receiving the award, an elated Odemba said the achievement was the result of teamwork, discipline, and belief within the squad.

“We’ve waited for this moment for a long time,” Odemba said. “I thank the organizers for recognizing the team’s efforts and my role as coach. 

“The players showed great discipline and heart throughout the qualifiers. It wasn’t easy, but we stayed focused on our goal — to bring Kenya back to the WAFCON stage.”

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Kenya sealed their return to the WAFCON finals after a commanding 4–1 aggregate victory over The Gambia in the final qualification round. 

The result capped a remarkable two-year journey for Odemba, who took charge of the Starlets with a clear vision to rebuild and restore national pride.

The team’s qualification marks only their second-ever appearance at the WAFCON, having last featured in 2016, and it underscores the steady progress under Odemba’s leadership. Her ability to blend experience with emerging talent, coupled with her tactical organization, has been widely credited for the team’s success.

Odemba’s October accolade places her among a distinguished list of SJAK monthly winners, selected from across Kenya’s sporting disciplines. The panel, chaired by Abuller Ahmed, described her triumph as “a testament to consistency, tactical acumen, and leadership.”

“Coach Odemba’s recognition is well-deserved,” Ahmed said. “Her consistency, tactical acumen, and dedication have been key to the Starlets’ success and to restoring Kenya’s presence on the continental stage.”

Odemba emerged top in a highly competitive shortlist that included some of Kenya’s most successful coaches in recent months — Shujaa rugby coach Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua, boxing coach Musa Benjamin, Nairobi United FC’s Nicholas Muyoti, women’s hockey coach Meshack Senge, Lionesses rugby coach Simon Odongo, and national triathlon coach Camilla Lydya.

The monthly SJAK award celebrates outstanding coaching performances and contributions to Kenyan sport.

 Wambua, the September winner, had led Shujaa to retain the Safari Sevens title, while Senge guided Kenya’s women’s hockey team to a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations.