The team capped of their appearance in the Pink Ladies tournament with a dominant 4-1 display against the Philippines.
Harambee Starlets captain Ruth Ingosi has hailed the team's participation in the Pink Ladies Tournament in Turkey as invaluable experience for Kenya's national women's football team that hasn't seen much in terms of international competition.
Harambee Starlets concluded their journey in Turkey with a memorable 4-1 victory over the Philippines.
The crucial win on October 30 at the Emirhan Stadium was the highlight of the team’s campaign, with team Ingosi expressing pride in the tournament's valuable exposure for the players.
The game against the Philippines saw the Starlets deliver a commanding performance as Elizabeth Mutukiza netted Kenya's first goal following a precise assist from Fasila Adhiambo.
Mutukiza's impact was felt again as her pressure led to an own goal by Philippines captain Hali Long, who struggled to clear a powerful cross.
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Adding to the scoreline, Purity Alukwe and Adhiambo each scored, reinforcing Kenya’s lead.
Although the Philippines found a consolation goal through Sarina Bolden, the Starlets remained dominant until the final whistle.
The Pink Ladies Tournament presented a critical opportunity for the Starlets to test their skills against top-ranked teams, including Russia and Chinese Taipei, following a lengthy period of inactivity on the international scene.
Ingosi emphasized the importance of the experience in helping the team assess its strengths and identify areas for improvement.
“The tournament has been very good. It has been a good exposure, especially for players like us who have been away from competition for so long. At least we have been in Turkey for this competition and we have been able to assess where we are at," Ingosi shared via Tata Sport.
Reflecting on the need for continued preparation, Ingosi highlighted the importance of regular training camps to maintain match fitness and strengthen team chemistry.
“What we can improve on is that maybe, even when there is no tournament, we can go to camp for training so that we have match combativeness and build team chemistry," she added.
"If we play in many of these tournaments, the players will get exposure and get into the market and get good offers from good clubs.”
Ingosi's thoughts were echoed by teammate Elizabeth Wambui, who noted the learning opportunities presented by facing higher-ranked teams.
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"Generally, as a team, we have learned a lot from the other teams because their level was slightly above us,” Wambui commented.
“The more we get these opportunities, the more we improve because we want to go to the World Cup.”