For Mildred Cheche, qualifying Kenya for successive FIFA U-17 Women's World Cups is not the finish line; it is proof that the country can achieve even more if it invests in girls' football.
Having become the first Kenyan coach to guide a national team to two FIFA World Cup qualifications, Cheche believes the biggest challenge now lies beyond the touchline: creating structures that will allow more young girls to follow in the Junior Starlets' footsteps.
Speaking to Sporty FM, the Junior Starlets coach said Kenya has no shortage of talent, but sustained success will only come through stronger grassroots programmes, competitive youth leagues and increased investment in women's football.
"We need more investment in grassroots football, youth competitions and coaches. Talent is there, but talent alone is not enough," she said.
Cheche also called on parents to embrace football as a viable pathway for girls, noting that many members of the current Junior Starlets squad have already secured educational opportunities through the sport.
"Most of the girls in our national team are already on school scholarships because of football. This game can change lives and open doors that many families could never afford."
While Kenya's back-to-back World Cup qualifications have brought unprecedented attention to the women's game, Cheche insists the real victory will be measured by the number of girls who continue playing long after the current generation.
The former footballer revealed that her own coaching journey began unexpectedly after an injury cut short her playing career. Determined to remain involved in the game, she bought two footballs and started coaching children in her neighbourhood - a decision that has since transformed Kenyan football history.
Her approach has centred on more than tactics. Managing teenage players, she says, requires becoming a mentor, counsellor and parent.
"Most of the time, we have to become mothers. Sometimes you become their friend and sometimes their mother because many of them have never experienced such pressure before."
That personal approach has helped foster the belief that carried Kenya to another World Cup. Cheche said she was convinced the Junior Starlets would qualify as soon as the fixtures were released and ensured that confidence spread throughout the squad.
"I looked at the fixtures and told my technical bench, 'This is our year, we're going back to the World Cup.' We then passed that belief to the players from the very first camp."
Her motivational methods also proved decisive during Kenya's crucial away victory over South Africa, where she urged her players to ignore the hostile atmosphere and embrace the occasion.
"I told them not to panic because of the crowd. Those fans had come to support South Africa, so we had to play like the home team."
Looking ahead to Morocco, Cheche has set a higher target than simply qualifying. After reaching consecutive FIFA U-17 Women's World Cups, she believes Kenya is now ready to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.
"We expect to go beyond the group stage. We believe we can do it if we continue improving and exposing the players."
For Cheche, however, success in Morocco will be only one chapter in a much bigger mission, ensuring the Junior Starlets become the foundation of a thriving women's football system that benefits generations to come.
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