Beldine Odemba named SJAK coach of the month
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 06.11.25. | 13:22
After edging out Tunisia in February, the Starlets went on to secure a 4–1 aggregate victory over The Gambia to book their ticket to Morocco.
Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has been named the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month for October.
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Odemba’s impressive leadership was instrumental as she guided the national women’s team to a historic qualification for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), just two years into her tenure.
After edging out Tunisia in February, the Starlets went on to secure a 4–1 aggregate victory over The Gambia to book their ticket to Morocco. The qualification marks Kenya’s return to the continental showpiece after a nine-year absence, last featuring in the 2016 edition hosted by Cameroon.
Odemba was unanimously selected by the SJAK panel, beating a strong list of nominees that included Kevin “Bling” Wambua (Shujaa coach), Musa Benjamin (Kenya boxing team), Nicholas Muyoti (Nairobi United FC), Meshack Senge (women’s hockey), Simon Odongo (Lionesses rugby), and national triathlon coach Camilla Lydya.
Wambua, who claimed the same award in September 2023, led Shujaa to retain the 2025 Safari Sevens title, while Senge guided the women’s hockey team to a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ismailia, Egypt.
Musa, head coach of the national boxing team, steered Kenya to a second-place overall finish at the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships in Nairobi, collecting five gold, ten silver, and eight bronze medals.
SJAK Executive Committee member and panel chairperson Abuller Ahmed praised Odemba’s achievement, saying:
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“Coach Odemba’s recognition is well-deserved. Her consistency, tactical acumen, and dedication have been key to the Starlets’ success and to restoring Kenya’s presence on the continental stage.”
Odemba expressed her appreciation after receiving the award:
“We’ve waited for this moment for a long time. 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.”
The monthly award, presented by SJAK, celebrates excellence and outstanding achievement among Kenyan coaches across all sporting disciplines.
