Down but not out, All Starlets plot WPL comeback

Kisumu All Starlets ended last season's FKF Women’s premier League (WPL) third from bottom and subsequently faced the chop from top flight action.

Coach Said Juma’s girls had stayed afloat for a good 7 seasons in the premier league, and being Nyanza giants, there is every indication that they might want to come back up as soon as possible.

Team manager Beryl Ogony set out on a recruitment spree that has seen the side rope in fresh talents from all over the region. As they await the commencement of the FKF Div 1 season, Starlets intend to leave nothing to chance.

Lydia Awuor, a Moi University graduate and playing in attacking midfield for Starlets, has only been at the team for one season and reiterates this fact.

‘’There’s always a way to bounce back so we are working on that. Relegation to Div 1 was painful but our coaches and the management told us not to lose hope, to just put in the work and we would be right back again,’’ says the attacking midfielder.

Starlets, after a season marred by financial challenges, ended the season just two points behind Bunyore Starlets who barely survived the relegation zone.

Tusker defender opens up on experience gained in Sweden

Alongside Kangemi Ladies and Kayole Starlet, the trio had to bid goodbye to the premier league.

Awuor, who has previously played for Gusii Starlets in the Div 1 aims at summoning her experience in the division, given they are not always the same.

‘’The Div 1 is just as competitive as the premier league only, you have to adjust how you play. Tactics are different there and even the smallest of teams can upset you,’’ she continues.

Wainaina keen on improving personal numbers

The forward says she first took football seriously at University level and guided her Moi side to third place in the Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) games.

Former premier league side Eldoret Falcons then spotted her and roped her in. She would head to Gusii Starlets after a season with Falcons.

‘’I’ve amassed a lot of experience in the lower tiers, that’s why when I came up to the premier league with Kisumu All Starlets, I didn’t struggle much to fit in,’’ says the 24-year-old.

At Starlets, she managed two goals in the league and two in the FKF Cup which she says gave both her and her teammates that little glimmer of hope that all was not lost after all.

Coach Juma’s side reached the semi-final of the FKF Cup amid their league struggles and were only knocked out by eventual champions Ulinzi.

‘’We did have a good run in the cup even though we struggled in the league. There is some confidence that we picked from the tournament and that keeps us going, hoping that we will be back shortly,’’ she concludes.

Why Eugene Mukangula opted to join Shabana

All Starlets, founded in 2016, was the team that brought women’s football within Kisumu back to the fore after many years and at some point, went toe to toe with the league’s top teams such as Vihiga Queens and Thika Queens.

Still under Coach Juma Said and team manager Ogony, starlets have vowed to come back up within one season.