Profile of Beldine Odemba, Kenyan Coach Who Led Harambee Starlets to WAFCON Qualification

BELDINE ODEMBA

NAME	BELDINE ODEMBA
AGE	41 YEARS
GENDER	FEMALE
OCCUPATION	PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COACH

Beldine Odemba is a former professional Kenyan football player and the current head coach of the Harambee Starlets, Kenya’s senior women’s national football team.

Her passion for football began at a young age, eventually opening doors for an opportunity to represent the nation.

Although specific details about her hometown and formal schooling remain private, her journey into coaching has been marked by rigorous training and certification.

Coaching Career

Beldine Odemba has emerged as one of Kenya’s most accomplished football coaches, with a career spanning national, club, and grassroots levels of the sport.

Her leadership is defined by tactical discipline, youth development, and a commitment to elevating women’s football in Kenya.

Beldine Odemba holds:

• CAF C Licence – Entry-level coaching qualification
• CAF B Licence – Earned in 2021 after a four-month course and internship
• CAF A Licence – Completed a six-month advanced coaching program
• FIFA Women’s Coach Education Scholarship – Awarded in 2022, supporting her growth through mentorship and global exposure

Notable Achievements

2022 FEASSA Regional Final

In 2022, Odemba coached Highway Secondary School in Nairobi to the final of the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in Arusha, Tanzania.

Highway reached their first FEASSA boys’ final since 2002, defeating Uganda’s powerhouse St. Mary’s Kitende in the semi-finals.

She also held youth coaching roles with AFC Leopards and Kariobangi Sharks academy sides.

KSSSA & National Championships

In 2024, Beldine Odemba led Highway to win the Nairobi Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two regional title, advancing to the national level.

She repeated the success by defending the Nairobi region title at the Term Two Games.

Highway emerged national boys’ football champions in August 2024, defeating Musingu High School 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.

The victory led to recognition from the Nairobi County Governor and an 11-day tour in Romania.

The team, under the guidance of Coach Beldine Odemba, represented Nairobi at the 2025 KSSSA national championships in Kakamega, following their regional win.

Kenya Police Bullets

At club level, Odemba has been equally dominant.

As head coach of Kenya Police Bullets, she led the team to an unbeaten season in the 2023/24 Kenya Women Premier League, clinching the title in their debut top-flight campaign.

Her tactical acumen was on full display during the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers, where Police Bullets defeated Kampala Queens (Uganda) and Denden FC (Eritrea) to top their group.

Police Bullets advanced to the semi-finals, showcasing disciplined defending and clinical finishing.

Rising Starlets

In October 2023, Beldine Odemba was appointed head coach of Kenya’s U-20 women’s national team, the Rising Starlets, ahead of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Her first major assignment was a two-legged tie against Angola.

In the first leg at Nyayo Stadium, Odemba’s side delivered a commanding 6–1 victory, with Valerie Nekesa scoring a hat-trick and Charity Midewa adding two goals.

The squad featured a blend of experienced youth players and emerging talent from the Junior Starlets.

Odemba retained the same squad for the return leg in Luanda, Angola, held on October 14, 2023.

The team’s performance under her leadership demonstrated tactical clarity and attacking intent.

Though her tenure with the Rising Starlets was brief, Odemba laid a strong foundation for youth development and competitive readiness at the U-20 level.

Harambee Starlets

Beldine Odemba was appointed head coach of the Harambee Starlets in September 2023, inheriting a squad that had not qualified for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) since 2016.

Determined to end the nine-year drought, she named a provisional 36-player squad in early 2025 and actively integrated junior talent—calling up 11 new faces, including key youth players transitioning from the Junior Starlets.

She went on to beat Tunisia and The Gambia, both in two-legged ties, booking a spot in WAFCON 2026—a landmark achievement.

Following these victories, Odemba became the first female coach to earn the Betika/SJAK Coach of the Month award for October 2025.