Amunyolete Exudes Confidence as Harambee Starlets Prepare for Algeria Double-Header
We want fans from across the country to keep supporting us, whether they’re watching from home or following updates online,” Abubakar observed.
Harambee Starlets players celebrate after scoring against Cameroon during their second leg Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on September 26, 2023. Kenya won 4-3 on post-match penalties after winning 1-0 in regular time to tie the first round on 1-1 aggregate. Photo/Sportpicha
By Ruth Sang
Harambee Starlets midfielder and Vihiga Queens playmaker Martha Amunyolete is confident the national women’s team is well prepared to emerge victorious in their upcoming international friendly matches against Algeria. The Kenyan team is set to play two fixtures in Algiers this week, with Amunyolete saying the team is determined to come back home with positive results.
Amunyolete, who previously played for Trans Nzoia Falcons before joining four-time Kenyan Women’s Premier League champions Vihiga Queens, admitted that the matches will be difficult. However, she talked of full confidence in the high-quality training sessions the team has gone through ahead of the trip.
“We know it won’t be easy, but we are prepared to give everything on the pitch. Our objective is to come back with good results for the country. Personally, I’ll work as much as I can to bring in a contribution to the team’s success and ensure that we don’t let our supporters down,” she said.
She heads to the friendlies in superb form, having been one of the standout players for Vihiga Queens this season. She has scored eight goals in only five league games this season, including netting five against Kisped Queens on November 2nd. Amunyolete had also found the back of the net twice against Bungoma Queens and Kibera Soccer Women, making her one of the most prolific attackers in the Women’s Premier League.
The friendly encounters in Algiers are part of the national team’s preparations for the 2025 WAFCON. The Starlets had booked their place in the continental tournament after outclassing Gambia with a 4-1 aggregate win during the qualifiers. Head coach and the technical bench hope the Algeria matches will help sharpen the team’s tactics, build stronger cohesion, and give emerging talents more exposure before the major tournament.
Another rising star in the team’s midfield, Kenya Police midfielder Medina Abubakar, expressed the same confidence as Amunyolete. She called on fans to continue supporting the team as they enter the critical training phase. “Our training has been very good, and the spirit in camp is extremely high. We want fans from across the country to keep supporting us, whether they’re watching from home or following updates online,” Abubakar observed.
The team left Nairobi for Algiers on Saturday evening and is set to play against Algeria on Wednesday, November 26. The second match will be on Sunday, November 30. With promising talents like Amunyolete and Abubakar filling leadership spots, the national team is looking forward to having the two friendlies as the perfect platform toward a great performance at next year’s WAFCON. The charges are determined to prove that the new crop of women footballers in Kenya is ready for top competition at the continental level.
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