Harambee Starlets hit the ground running

Harambee Starlets have hit camp and kicked off preparation for the upcoming Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) 2022 qualification matches against Uganda.

New head coach Alex Alumirah together with his two assistants Benter Achieng' and Ann Aluoch were in charge as Starlets went through their paces during the first session on Wednesday.

Kenya is set to play neighbors Uganda on February 13, 2022 away before staging the return leg a week later in Nairobi for a ticket to this year's continental showpiece set for July this year at Morocco.

The tournament will also serve as part of the qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup set for Australia and Newzealand set for July to August next year.

The local-based players in the team already reported to residential camp at Kasarani and held their first training on Wednesday at the Kasarani Annex, with the foreign-based legion expected to join them later.

Alumira named his provisional squad that is made up of 37 players on Tuesday, barely a day after his unveiling at the helm of the Kenya Women's Senior National team.

The squad consists of 12 foreign-based players, including Jentrix Shikangwa and Lillian Awuor who moved to Europe earlier this month, and 25 others plying their trade in the local scene.

Esse Akida and Samantha Akinyi are some of the returnees to the squad after missing out conspicuously recently.

Starlets opponents, Crested Cranes have also reported to camp in readiness for the clash that takes place in three weeks.

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.