Eight players in the Kenyan Under-17 girls’ football team are in a dilemma between realizing their dream by playing on the global arena and making sure to perform well in their Form Four final examinations, which they have prepared for in the past 13 years.
This comes after winning against Burundi 5-0 aggregate on the 16th July, after which they qualified for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The historic feat was celebrated at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi with goals from Marion Serenge and assistant captain Valarie Nekesa, who made the Junior Starlets the first Kenyan side to qualify for a FIFA World Cup in any category.
And with all the excitements and hopes for competing on an international arena, the dates set from October 16 to November 3, fall within and are parallel to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, thereby creating a dilemma for players in having to choose between academics and an opportunity on the global front.
Of the 23 players listed, eight are in their last year of secondary school. The list includes players, level, and schools: Marion Serenge of Archbishop Njenga Girls High School, Laureen Ilavonga of Wiyeta Girls Secondary School, Christine Adhiambo of Nyakach Girls High School, Rebecca Odato of Dagoretti Mixed Secondary School, Velma Nabwire of Wiyeta Girls Secondary School, Claire Meris of Kobala Mixed Secondary School, Quinter Adhiambo of St Alfred Alara Secondary School.
For Marion and her father, a former Kenyan international Mark Serenge, the choice was clear: the World Cup comes first. “Exams can wait,” he said, citing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent Kenya on a global platform.
Marion agreed, mentioning the agreement reached with her parents. “I will choose the World Cup over exams because this is a lifetime opportunity,” she said.
While the Ministry of Education has in the past allowed registered candidates to sit for exams even after the official period, efforts mounted to get a clear response on special exams for the players have been futile. Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa revealed that they have engaged the Ministry of Education about this issue, but were told that exam dates are final.
Despite all this, the players are still hopeful. “Some of them are happy to repeat next year,” Mwendwa noted. The team will start their camp on August 18 with high-profile friendlies lined up including a Four Nations tournament in Spain, to prepare for the World Cup.
Team Kenya is pooled in Group ‘C’ with North Korea, Mexico, and England. Junior Starlets join Nigeria and Zambia as Africa’s representatives at the event, thus becoming the second East African team after Tanzania, which took part in the 2022 edition in India.