Former Harambee Starlets striker Neddy Atieno on impact of hosting FIFA Series on women’s football

Former Harambee Starlets forward Neddy Atieno has hailed Kenya’s hosting of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series as a major step forward for the growth and visibility of women’s football in the country.

Kenya is set to stage the four-nation tournament at Nyayo Stadium, bringing together the Harambee Starlets alongside Australia, India, and Malawi.

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The competition will run from Saturday, 11, to Thursday, 15.

It will mark a historic moment as the country hosts a global women’s football event of this scale.

The tournament will kick off on Saturday with two matches lined up at Nyayo.

Starlets will headline the opening day with a clash against India at 6:00 pm, while Australia face Malawi earlier at 2:00 pm.

The competition will culminate on 15 April, with the third-place playoff scheduled for 2:00 pm before the final, set for 6 pm kick-off.

Speaking after Kahawa Lionesses’ 3-1 victory over FC Talanta Women at Mahiga Primary School, Atieno noted that Kenya hosting the tournament has a bigger impact beyond the action on the pitch.

“It is important that we have that tournament in Kenya. We want to thank FIFA because that will put Kenya on the map,” she said.

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Atieno believes the competition offers a valuable platform for the national team to test itself against stronger opposition ahead of continental assignments such as the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

“It is an opportunity for us to grow and challenge ourselves as we go to WAFCON and meet countries like Australia. It is an opportunity for us to learn and grow and see how it is played out here,” she added.

Beyond elite competition, the former striker pointed to the importance of strengthening development structures, noting that Kenya has abundant talent at the grassroots level that needs proper nurturing.

“There is great talent at the grassroots level. If you look at our match against Talanta, the goals were clinical, composed midfield, and it was great,” she observed.

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However, Atieno stressed that identifying talent is only the first step, calling for clearer development pathways to ensure players progress through the ranks.

“We now focus on development. How is our pathway? Can this player move from the county level to WPL? I feel that if we have development programs, the pathway will be clear and every girl will get the opportunity,” she offered.

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Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series is also expected to boost Kenya’s capacity in organizing international events and offer experience in areas such as operational planning, match officiating, and overall tournament management.

The exposure is seen as key in aligning the country’s football structures with global standards.