‘Long overdue’ - Kenya Police Bullets’ new coach lauds stringent regulations requiring men’s teams to have women’s sides

© Beldin Odemba (Facebook)

FOOTBALL ‘Long overdue’ - Kenya Police Bullets’ new coach lauds stringent regulations requiring men’s teams to have women’s sides

Joel Omotto 14:29 - 10.07.2023

The experienced tactician feels women’s football will benefit greatly from having male’s sides supporting them

Harambee Junior Starlets head coach Beline Odemba feels the regulation requiring all men’s teams to have a women’s side was long overdue.

Odemba, who has been appointed the new head coach of Kenya Police Bullets FC (formerly Thika Queens), feels this is the only way of lifting women’s football in the country, having been neglected for ages.

While she did not wish to speak about her new role at Kenya Police Bullets, since ‘she is still not authorised to do so,’ the experienced coach believes grassroots teams will be the biggest winners of the new regulations as plenty of talent goes to waste at that level.

“Club licensing is a good thing for us going pro. It will build our game and we can now sell ourselves well,” Odemba told Pulse Sports.

“It should have happened a long time ago not just now because of club licensing. Women’s teams being supported just like the men will see our players get opportunities to even play out of the country.”

“Like now, Tusker have acquired MacMillan FC who are playing in Division One. It means players at that level will have exposure and become marketable.

“We will discover new talents from the grassroots. MacMillan will not be looking for players from the Premier League but will hunt in schools and colleges which will lift these girls and encourage them to take football seriously.”

Odemba has joined Police, who have ambitions of making the team a force, having finished fifth in the FKF Women’s Premier League under their former name Thika Queens.

The Law Enforcers are already spending big on their men’s side yet again and Odemba hopes this will be the norm with women’s teams not just at Police but in the entire division.

“In Europe, we saw Manchester United women being started just recently but almost won the league last season. This is due to the support given by the club,” she added.

“Women’s teams need to be packaged and marketed well. Arsenal women wear Fly Emirates just like the men, will we see Police Bullets wear Betika like their male counterparts?”

FKF Premier League teams have been in a rush to acquire women’s sides in a bid to comply with the stringent Club Licensing rules and besides Police and Tusker, Gor Mahia have acquired Acakoro Ladies, Kakamega Homeboyz have Kakamega Starlets while AFC Leopards are in talks to take over Makolanders FC.

Gor Mahia, Homeboyz and Tusker were cleared by Football Kenya Federation to feature in continental matches last month after meeting all the requirements, which include having a women’s side.

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