By Agnes Olawo,

Harambee Starlets – Senior Women’s National football team of Kenya goes on record as they have qualified for their first ever African Women’s Cup of Nations.

Starlets, who as per the 25th of March 2016 Coca-Cola/FIFA world ranking sit at position 133 went past an Algerian side who are currently 59 positions ahead of them.

However, behind the well deserved victory, lies a weary path for the Harambee Starlets as well as women’s football in the country.

The Football Kenya Federation has come under intense pressure for poor facilitation or lack thereof of women’s football with no meaningful structures in place.

There isn’t a Women’s League that is constantly active with the final one having been played in 2014 and early 2015.

It ended prematurely after teams in the league lacked funds to host home matches and travel for away matches.

The absence of a well run and managed league weighs down on the national team players as well as teams who have in previous occasions, taken part in it.

Head coach David Ouma raised concerns with the fitness levels of his team ahead of their trip to Algiers.

As such, regular club competition will help counter this and create a platform for so many women to play in the league.

Harambee Starlets achievement should be a wakeup call to the country’s federation to match with speed and shake up activities in the women’s game.

It is time for those girls and women who aspire to one day represent the country to have their dreams kept alive by a working federation and an active football environment.

The victory achieved should be a stepping stone for women’s football and be a building block going forward.

Countries like the USA, Japan, Norway and the likes are good examples of what can happen should Women sport, football in particular be given a chance to stand and probably, we should be keen to emulate how they are going about their business.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com