Mildred Cheche targets U-17 World Cup knockout, urges grassroots investment
Key points
- Mildred Cheche wants Kenya’s U-17 side to reach the World Cup knockout stage.
- She argues unprecedented attention from back-to-back qualifications must fund grassroots structures.
- Women’s football momentum dies without school and county pathways.
Qualifying is the trailer; the system is the movie. Eastleigh Voice reports that Mildred Cheche eyes a U-17 World Cup knockout stage and urges grassroots investment, noting that while back-to-back World Cup qualifications brought attention to the women’s game, attention without pitches and coaches is temporary noise.
Kenya’s girls’ teams have rewritten expectations. Sustaining that means paid youth coaches, safe travel, medical cover and league calendars that do not vanish after a finals photo.
What investment buys
Scouting beyond Nairobi, nutrition support, and academic-friendly camp schedules so parents do not pull talent. Federation and county budgets should publish line items for women’s youth football.
Sponsors who only appear at World Cup send-offs are free-riding on volunteer coaches.
On-pitch goal
A knockout run would cement belief; even without it, structural funding is the real medal.
Sports contacts: directory.
Based on Eastleigh Voice reporting of Cheche’s comments.