Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba has opened up about the immense pressure that has come with coaching the national team, even as she plans how to make an impression during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
She says that she had to become accustomed to criticism and accepted it as part of her job since taking on the role in September 2023.
Speaking on the NTV sports talk show SportOn!, hosted by Elijah Ouko and James Wokabi, Odemba said that there was a time when she would announce the national team squad for a match or tournament, and then avoid social media to escape some of the reactions from football fans, some of which were critical.
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba.
Photo credit: Pool
“I would disappear from social media for one or two weeks until the day of the match. This was because of the criticisms I received from some fans,” she said.
She added, “However, I eventually became accustomed to criticism. As a matter of fact, people will always talk, and when you understand that, things become much easier.”
“If you don’t take action for fear of being criticised, you’ll be criticised for your inaction. The important thing is to do what is right.”
Odemba, a CAF ‘A’ Licence holder, secured Kenya a place at the 2026 Wafcon in October, when the Starlets beat The Gambia 4–1 on aggregate in their final qualifying match.
This will be the second time that Kenya will be participating in the continental tournament; the last time the Starlets featured was ten years ago in Cameroon.
Odemba is confident that the Starlets will perform well in Morocco as she also looks forward to taking part in the World Cup.
Notably, Odemba was criticised during the first leg of the 2026 Wafcon qualifier against Tunisia earlier this year for not giving certain players a starting role.
One of the players some people felt should have been in the starting XI was striker Jentrix Shikangwa. Odemba decided to give Shikangwa a starting role in the return leg as Kenya won 1-0 on aggregate to book a date with The Gambia.
“The best approach is to continue improving and filtering criticism for constructive feedback,” said Odemba, a former head coach of Kenya Police Bullets, a women’s premier league team. She said that some of the negative remarks made by people on social media have affected the players negatively.
Harambee Starlets players celebrate a goal against the Gambia in a first leg match of the final round of 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium on October 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Odemba recalled the criticism she received after the team’s 1-0 loss to Cameroon in Douala in the first round of the 2024 Wafcon qualifiers. Fortunately, Kenya equalised in the second leg in Nairobi, winning 4–3 on penalties.
“I had a strategy as we headed into the first leg. However, it’s as if some people expected something different,” said Odemba.
She added, “The fans surprised me even more during the match. They criticised the way we won. They said we should have won by a bigger margin.”
Odemba said that she had advised her players to disregard the negativity on social media and focus on self-improvement every day.
“For me, it’s about embracing the gradual and steady growth that comes with dedication over time. We’ve laid the foundation and are now building upwards,” she said.
She noted that Kenyans are impatient, stating, “I didn’t believe we could beat Cameroon, a powerhouse in African football. Most Kenyans want instant success, but I believe in going through the process.”
On Saturday, the tactician was honoured with the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) award in recognition of her achievements with the Starlets, among others.
“I was surprised and did not expect the award. I hope it inspires the next generation of women in football, whether they’re players, coaches or referees,” she said.
She said that she hopes the Starlets can play South Africa, another footballing powerhouse, in a friendly match as part of their preparations for Wafcon.
