Harambee Starlets left their residential training camp at Kasarani on Wednesday after efforts by the government to overturn CAF’s decision to lock the country out of the African Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers hit a dead end.
The first leg of the tie against Uganda’s Crested Cranes had been slated for 17th February in Kampala, with the second leg set for Nairobi on Sunday. The aggregate winner of the tie was set to qualify for the AWCON, set to be held in Morocco later this year.
However, CAF wrote to Uganda on 28th January informing them that they had qualified for the AWCON after Kenya withdrew from the contest; vide a letter by former FKF CEO Barry Otieno.
The Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee admitted the match had aborted as CAF had not replied to their letter protesting the decision to hand Uganda a walkover.
Justice (Retired) Aaron Ringera, the FKF CC chairperson, said they had requested the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to grill Otieno over the letter that effectively kicked Kenya out of the qualifiers.
“To the best of my knowledge, Otieno will be appearing before DCI for interference and sabotage. He has denied the girls an opportunity and I hope Otieno and his team will not do what they have done, in the coming competitions,” said Ringera.
“If these ladies got the chance, they were going to beat Uganda. We are going to have Under 17 and Cecafa coming soon and we don’t want to see this happening again.”
The released players were paid their allowances and all expenses amounting to KSh7 million against a budget of KSh39 million.
“Whoever did this doesn’t have a human heart and may God punish this man properly,” said Harambee Starlets coach Alex Alumira.
On her part, skipper Corazon Aquino: “I thank the caretaker committee and the support from Kenyans when we were in camp. It is unfortunate but will keep our focus and hope. To whomever did this may thunder strike you.”
Kenya had beaten South Sudan 15-1 on aggregate in October to qualify for the final round of the qualifiers against the Crested Cranes, who overcame Ethiopia on post-match penalties.
PHOTO/COURTESY