Harambee Starlets’ head coach Beldine Odemba is part of a select 25 elite tacticians who have embarked on their Caf 'A' coaching course organized by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The course is being conducted by Salim Ali and Francis Kimanzi and will run for six months.

She is in the company of  Ulinzi Stars'  head coach Anthony Kimani, Posta Rangers' assistant coach Bernard Kawinzi, and Caf instructor Jackline Juma among others.

The coaching course represents the second-highest level of certification offered by Caf, with the prestigious Caf Pro License standing as the highest attainable certification on the continent.

FKF’s vice president Doris Petra said the federation had invested heavily in coaching to enable the tacticians to lift the standards at their respective clubs.

“We made a decision that the best teacher is the one that’s educated and that is why we have invested so much in coaching, refereeing, administrators, and instructor courses. You can see all instructors are Kenyan and they have been trained through FKF,” she said.

She went on to add that this was the first Caf licensing course to be offered since the current administration took office.

“What makes this occasion even more significant is that this marks the first Caf licensing course to be offered since the current administration assumed office. This coaching pathway comes full circle for these coaches, as they all began their journey together at the Caf D level,” she added.

Ulinzi Stars tactician, Kimani, expressed his excitement for having been selected to undertake his Caf A license and to follow the pathway laid down by the federation.

“I am a part of the few coaches who have come up through the ranks and I have followed the pathway that has been laid down by Caf. I started with my Caf D, C then B and now I have the opportunity to do Caf A,” he said.

FKF has partnered with KEFWA (Kenya Footballers' Welfare Association) in a bid to ensure the elevation of football in the country through combined efforts and shared vision.

KEFWA’s President James Situma cited the initiative by FKF as a step in the right direction in terms of growing the sport in the country.  

The course is part of FKF’s initiative to ensure that there are more qualified coaches handling teams from grassroots to professional level.