KCSE can wait says Serenge as she shelves exams to go to the U17 World Cup

For close one month now there has a public debate on the fate on nine Junior Starlets’ players regarding the matter of choosing to remain in the country and write their KSCE exams or go to the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in October, a stage where Kenya will be competing for the first time.
After sealing qualification with a remarkable victory against Burundi at the Ulinzi Sports Complex last month, the Ministry of Sports together with the football Kenya Federation had promised to strike a deal with the Ministry of Education for the rescheduling of KCSE exams for the concerned players.
However, with all things constant until this moment, one star player from the Junior Starlet team that is Marion Musanga Serenge has made a huge decision of choosing the world cup over exams.
The speedy forward who contributed two goals in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Burundi says the decision to prioritize the global games was overwhelming but it was reached at after consultation with her parents.
“For me, I am choosing to go to the World Cup because such opportunities come once a lifetime as compared to KCSE exams which can be done next year. It was a difficult decision but I consulted my parents about it and my dad told me that I would rather go to the World Cup,” Musanga told People Sport.
Her father, Fred Serenge who is a former Harambee Stars player says playing at the World Cup will be of more impact to the daughter considering that it is a milestone achievement for Kenya.
“It is a great accomplishment according to me since it is the first time Kenya to compete at the World Cup.”
He further says that as a family, they have settled for the world cup and overlooking the exams aspect for now although noting that is a sensitive matter for parents or guardians in the same situation.
“The exam matter is a sensitive issue because as a parent, you invest in a child to be able to go to school and at least make their future. However, the exams can be done any other time in my opinion. I do not think it should be an issue at this moment. I tent to believe that these are candidates and they have taken much of their time in camp, they have done the duty for the country and the same government should be able to reciprocate the same by ensuring that the players do their exams. They have mechanisms that can be put in place for special exams.”
The 2024 FIFA Women’s U17 Women’s World Cup that will be staged in the Dominican Republic is scheduled to kick off on October 16 to November 3 while this year’s KCSE is set to commence on October 22 to November 22.