Kayole Starlets trio selected to represent Kenya at Homeless World Cup
Lavyne Achola, one of Kayole Starlets players selected for Homeless World Cup 2025 in Oslo, Norway. Photo courtesy of Kayole Starlets.
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Kayole Starlets head coach Mary Adhiambo has expressed pride after three of her players were selected to represent Kenya at the 2025 Homeless World Cup, scheduled to be staged in Oslo, Norway, from August 23 to 30, 2025.
The Women’s Premier League side will have Lavyne Achola, Rose Mumbua, and Mercy Mung’uro don national colors in the unique global competition that brings together players who are homeless or who have previously experienced homelessness.
Coach Adhiambo hailed the call-up as a big opportunity for the trio, saying it will expose them to international football and also help them compete against teams with more experience.
“They will gain valuable experience since they will face teams from countries with vast exposure, such as Mexico,” she said.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual tournament that seeks to raise awareness about homelessness and advocate for the importance of supporting vulnerable communities. Both men’s and women’s teams take part, with matches played under a special format: four players per side and a duration of only 14 minutes per game.
This year, Kenya’s women’s team has been drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Mexico, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Greece, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament is expected to showcase football talent, resilience and determination of individuals using sport as a platform for transformation and empowerment.
The tournament was first staged in 2003 in Graz, Austria organized by the Homeless World Cup Foundation with its headquartered in Scotland. Each year, a different country hosts the event.
At the World Cup, both men’s and women’s teams compete with strict rules that keep the event inclusive: players must not have participated in previous editions and must meet eligibility criteria based on their housing situation within the past year.
Memorable editions of the tournament include the 2010 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which featured more than 60 nations, and more recent competitions where countries like Kenya, Mexico, and Scotland have proudly flown their flags.
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