Mildred Cheche is a Kenyan football coach and former footballer who has cemented her place among Kenya’s most influential football figures after guiding the Junior Starlets to a second qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Early Life and Education
Mildred Omari Cheche was born in Pangani, Nairobi, and grew up in the city’s Huruma and Kariobangi estates.
Raised in a family of six girls, she was the fifth-born child.
Her passion for football emerged at an early age, and at just seven years old, she joined the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), where she began developing the skills that would later shape her career in the sport.
Her involvement in MYSA exposed her to structured football development and nurtured her leadership abilities, laying the foundation for her future transition into coaching.
Alongside her sporting ambitions, Cheche pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and International Business Management from Kiriri Women’s University of Science and Technology.
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In 2017, she studied Civic Leadership at the University of Delaware in the United States, an experience that strengthened her leadership and community development skills.
She later enhanced her professional development through the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship in the same year, a program designed to nurture emerging African leaders.
Determined to build a career in football beyond her playing days, she obtained a CAF B Coaching License, one of Africa’s recognized coaching qualifications.
Cheche then enrolled for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Business Management at United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) in April 2025, while continuing her duties with Football Kenya Federation and the Junior Starlets.
Career
Mildred Cheche’s football career spans more than two decades as a player, coach, instructor, administrator and national team manager.
She started her playing career with the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), where she spent nearly seven years as a professional football player between 2008 and 2014.
Playing primarily as a forward, Cheche developed through the renowned grassroots program that has produced some of Kenya’s finest football talent.
She later played as a center forward for Mathare United Women and Ministry of Youth and Sports Women FC.
Her playing days, however, were cut short by a serious leg injury that forced her into early retirement and pushed her towards coaching.
After leaving competitive football, Cheche turned to coaching through MYSA’s youth development programs, where she mentored and trained young players.
Between January 2014 and August 2015, she worked as a sports coach at Peponi International School, gaining valuable experience in youth development and sports management.
In April 2015, she joined Changes Soccer Academy as a professional soccer coach, a role she held for almost seven years until February 2022.
Her work at the grassroots level earned her a reputation as one of the country’s most promising coaches, particularly in the development of girls’ football.
In November 2019, she became a Football Instructor at the Mathare Youth Sports Association, where she trained grassroots coaches on football education and development.
The position allowed her to influence not only players but also the next generation of coaches.
Cheche later expanded her expertise beyond the technical area.
Between January 2022 and April 2024, she served as Administration Manager at Rainbow FC Kenya, combining football development with club management and administration.
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In April 2021, she joined Football Kenya Federation (FKF) as a Project Manager, a position she continues to hold.
Her work at the federation placed her at the center of football development programs and talent identification initiatives across the country.
Mildred Cheche’s Huge Breakthrough
Her biggest breakthrough came in January 2024 when she was appointed Head Coach of Kenya’s Under-17 women’s national team, the Junior Starlets.
Within months, she made history by guiding Kenya to the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, becoming the first coach to lead a Kenyan football team to a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Kenya also secured its first-ever World Cup victory, defeating Mexico 2-1 during the competition.
Cheche’s success did not end there.
After Kenya missed out on qualification for the 2025 edition following elimination by Cameroon, she rebuilt the Junior Starlets and led another qualification campaign in 2026.
Her team defeated South Africa 5-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 away before sealing the tie with a 3-1 victory at Nyayo National Stadium.
The result secured Kenya’s place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco and made Cheche the first Kenyan coach to qualify a national football team for two FIFA World Cups.
Awards and Recognition
Mildred Cheche’s success with the Junior Starlets has earned her both national and continental recognition, particularly following Kenya’s emergence as a force in women’s youth football.
In July 2024, Cheche and her technical bench received the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President’s Award after guiding the Junior Starlets to Kenya’s first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification.
In the same year, Cheche earned a nomination for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Coach of the Year Award following her historic World Cup qualification campaign.
Her nomination formed part of a broader recognition of Kenya’s success at youth level, with Junior Starlets also nominated for CAF Women’s Team of the Year and forward Valerie Nekesa receiving a Young Player of the Year nomination.
In March 2025, Cheche was named Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month following her continued success with the Junior Starlets and her contribution to women’s football development in the country.
Family and Net Worth
There is very little publicly available information about Mildred Cheche’s immediate family.
Cheche has largely kept details about her parents, siblings, marital status, spouse, and children out of the public domain.
There is also no verified public information on Mildred Cheche’s net worth.
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