Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche has expressed her delight after successfully graduating from the prestigious FIFA Elite Performance Coach Mentorship Programme for Women.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe tactician was among 20 female coaches selected globally for the 18-month programme, which seeks to develop elite women coaches through mentorship, practical learning and exposure to some of the world's most accomplished football tacticians.Cheche, who has continued to break barriers in Kenyan women's football, celebrated the milestone following the programme's conclusion at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.McCarthy opens up on emotional Orlando return as Harambee Stars prepare for Bafana BafanaReflecting on her journey, the history-making coach expressed gratitude to FIFA, her mentors and fellow participants for an experience she believes has transformed her approach to coaching and leadership."As I stand at the end of the FIFA Elite Performance Coach Mentorship Programme for Women, my heart is full of gratitude for a programme that has changed me not only as a coach, but also as a woman and a leader.Thank you to FIFA for investing in women coaches, not just in words but in action. Thank you to my mentors, who walked with me patiently, challenged my thinking, watched my sessions, questioned my decisions, and never allowed me to settle for good enough when I could be excellent,” Cheche posted.##NAJAVA_MECA_10105829##Beyond the technical knowledge acquired, Cheche highlighted the relationships forged throughout the programme, describing her fellow participants as a family united by their shared ambition to advance women's football."Thank you to my fellow mentees, my sisters from across the world, for the honest conversations, the late-night calls, the shared fears and shared victories.And thank you to the Football Kenya Federation for supporting the process and trusting me with our Junior Starlets. This programme did not just teach me football; it gave me a family," she added.Government assesses readiness of Talanta Stadium ahead of Bayern vs Ajax clash [PHOTOS]The FIFA initiative pairs 20 female coaches with 20 experienced mentors drawn from the highest levels of international football, including national team managers and coaches with FIFA World Cup experience.Among the prominent mentors involved are South Africa women's national team coach Desiree Ellis, Brazil women's national team coach Arthur Elias and experienced tacticians Corinne Diacre, Joe Montemurro and Francisco Neto.Over the 18 months, participants benefit from three in-person workshops, individual online mentorship sessions and exchange visits designed to provide practical exposure to elite coaching environments.##NAJAVA_MECA_10105812##The programme also provides financial support and access to an international network of coaches, creating opportunities for continued professional development beyond graduation.For Cheche, the graduation represents another significant milestone in a coaching career that has already delivered historic achievements for Kenyan football.She became the first Kenyan coach to guide a national football team to consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances after leading the Junior Starlets to back-to-back FIFA U17 Women's World Cup tournaments.Sunderland forward headlines Ivory Coast U23 squad to face KenyaHer latest achievement came at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, where she guided Kenya to their first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup tournament.The Junior Starlets secured their historic Round of 16 qualification following an emphatic 4-0 victory over Samoa before eventually bowing out after a 3-1 defeat to Japan at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.Despite the elimination, Kenya's performance represented significant progress for women's football in the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_10105794##Having benefited from FIFA's mentorship initiative, Cheche now hopes to use the knowledge and experience gained to inspire and develop the next generation of female coaches and footballers."This programme has proven that when you invest in one woman coach, you do not just change one career; you change a whole generation of girls who will look at her and say, 'I can be her tomorrow," she said.