Experienced women football coach Alex Alumira named Harambee Starlets coach

Celebrated women football tutor Alex Alumira is the new Harambee Starlets head coach taking over from Charles Okere as the team prepares to take on Uganda's Crested Cranes for the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) 

Alumira who has guided Vihiga Queens to three Women Premier League (WPL) titles will be assisted by former Harambee Starlets players Ann Aluoch and Benta Achieng currently coaching Mathare Women in Division One and Thika Queens respectively. The team will be managed by Martha Karimi. 

"The coach and the technical bench were recruited after a highly competitive process that entailed oral and written tests and we believe we have the best from that exercise.

Their term runs until our mandate as the Caretaker Committee expires which will be around May," said Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee chair Aaron Ringera.

Okere was appointed last year in April, taking over from long serving tactician David Ouma who had guided the side in their first ever AWCON appearance.

Harambee Starlets are set to play neighbors Uganda on February 16, 2022 away before staging the return leg a week later in Nairobi for a ticket to this year's AWCON set for July this year.

"We have a tough job ahead as Uganda are a very competitive side and this match carries alot of weight for the country. The last time we played against Uganda in CECAFA we won but they have shown massive improvement in most recent outing.

We have our work cut out but the talent is there to handle any challenge thrown at us. We already have a team in place so only few changes will be made in that squad," offered Alumira.

Kenya advanced to the second round after seeing hammering South Sudan in a two-legged clash staged at Nairobi for both legs, winning 8-0 in the first leg as hosts and 7-1 as the visiting team to complete a 15-goal haul on aggregate.

Starlets last faced bitter rivals Uganda’s Crested Cranes in the final group A match at the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Women’s Championship in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, winning 3-0 to book a date with Burundi in the semi final. 

Alex Alumira at a glance

Work Experience

2021: Head Coach, Tiger Queens (Tanzania)

2019: Assistant Coach, Vihiga United (National Super League and Kenyan Premier League).

2018: Head Coach, Harambee Starlets Select (Team B)

2018-2021: Volunteer coach Madira Girls High School

2015 – 2017: Technical Advisor, Ibinzo Girls

2013-2021: Head Coach, Vihiga Queens FC

2011-2013: Assistant Coach, Vihiga All Stars (National Super League)

2008 – 2018: Head Coach and Teacher of Computer and Maths at Friends School KIgama High

2008-2015: Head Coach – Chavakali United Talent Academy

Qualifications, Training and University Education

Academics: Masinde Muliro University alumni

Training:

Salt Factory

 Game Intelligence, Integration of Modern Technology in Training and Holistic Player Development

 Football for Friendship

 Key Aspects of Sports Managementin Children’s football, values and how ro train mixed teams

Certificates

-- Fifa Diploma in Football Medicine

-- CAF C Diploma

-- Life Skills coach for women team coaches (KNVB)

-- Arsenal FC Coaching Course (Talent Identification)

-- Arsenal FC Coaching Course (Goalkeeping and Defence Skills)

-- CAF D Diploma

-- KNVB Advance

Honours

2021: Prepared Vihiga Queens for the Cecafa which they won after he left for Tanzania

2019:

 Won the Kenya Women’s Premier League

Vihiga Queens TB Man of the Year Award

2018: Won the Kenya Women’s Premier League

 Coach of the Year Award – Vihiga Queens

 Magharibi Awards Coach of the Year

 Top 4 Soya Nominee for the Coach of the Year Award

2017

 Won the Kenyan Women Premier League

 Coach of the Year, Vihiga County (VSSSA)

2016

 Runner-up in the Kenyan Women’s Premier League

2014-2015

 Won Division One League in debut season

Stats at Vihiga Queens

-2021

Games in Charge – 18

Won – 16

Drew – 1

Lost – 1

-2019

Games in Charge – 28

Won – 26

Drew – 1

Lost -- 1

-2018

Games in Charge – 30

Won – 28

Drew – 1

Lost – 1

-2017

Games in Charge – 15

Won – 14

Lost – 1

-2016

Games in Charge – 15

Won – 13

Drew – 1

Lost – 1

-2014-2015

Games in Charge – 12

Won – 11

Lost -- 1

Coaching Philosophy: “Women football is about learning. Coaching women football is about teaching both by action and by example. I coach women football to challenge players to develop life skils, ethics and moral awareness, and fitness knowledge.” – Alex Lusioli Alumirah