Kenya’s Junior Starlets captain Elizabeth Ochaka is optimistic about their final match against Mexico in the ongoing 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
Despite challenging outings in their previous games against England and North Korea, Ochaka remains positive as her team prepares for the crucial showdown scheduled for Thursday, 2 am Kenyan time at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Ochaka, along with her teammates, is determined to bounce back from their previous defeats. They have been analyzing their past performances to pinpoint key mistakes and areas for improvement.
“We’ve learned a lot from our matches against England and North Korea. We’ve identified some mistakes, and while we can’t reveal them now, we’re working hard to implement changes for the game against Mexico,” said Ochaka. “We are confident the adjustments will yield positive results.”
The team captain also urged Kenyan fans to continue supporting the squad, emphasizing that their participation in the World Cup itself is a significant achievement for the country.
“To the fans, please keep supporting us. This tournament is a huge challenge, and we’ve done our best. It’s not easy, but we’re giving it our all. This is a learning experience for us, and it will help us grow and improve for future tournaments,” Ochaka expressed.
Kenya is in Group C alongside England, North Korea, and Mexico. Both England and North Korea lead the group with six points each, while Kenya and Mexico are yet to secure any points.
The captain, who also plays as a defender for Kenya Police FC, has personal aspirations beyond the World Cup. Ochaka hopes her performance in the tournament will open doors for her to play in Europe, where she dreams of using her platform to help Kenyan teams and establish a successful academy for young football talents.
“My goal is to get scouted to play in Europe, and if that happens, I want to come back and support struggling teams in Kenya. I also want to start an academy that can link players to European leagues,” Ochaka shared.
Beyond football, Ochaka is also passionate about serving as a Police officer and takes inspiration from Chelsea Women FC’s defender Lauren James as her role model.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- Thursday, October 24, 2024:
- England vs North Korea – 2 am
- Mexico vs Kenya – 2 am
The Junior Starlets are looking forward to finishing the tournament strong and making their mark on the global stage. Fans will be hoping for a historic result against Mexico as Kenya wraps up its maiden FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign.
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