Former Harambee Starlets striker lands new role at ambitious Nairobi club
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 08.07.26. | 19:18
The appointment marks a significant expansion of her responsibilities, with the former Kenya international now set to oversee the club's entire football structure
Kahawa Pride FC have appointed former Harambee Starlets striker Neddy Atieno as the club's new Director of Football, just five months after she officially joined the outfit as Project Lead for the senior women's team, the Lionesses.
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The appointment marks a significant expansion of Atieno's responsibilities, with the former Kenya international now set to oversee the club's entire football structure, from the senior men's and women's teams to the youth and academy development pathway.
Announcing the appointment, Kahawa Pride described it as an important milestone in the club's long-term vision.
"Today marks an important step in the journey of Kahawa Pride FC. We are proud to welcome Neddy Atieno as our new Director of Football.
As Director of Football, Neddy will lead and oversee every football-related aspect of the club. From the Lionesses and Alphas to Mapogo, the Cubs and our wider football pathway, she will help shape the identity, standards and direction of football at Kahawa Pride for years to come."
The club added: "It is with great humility that we welcome one of Kenya's most respected football minds to our club. Welcome to Kahawa Pride, Neddy. The work begins."
Atieno joined Kahawa Pride earlier this year after coming out of retirement, having previously announced the end of her playing career in 2021 following her last spell with Ulinzi Starlets.
Rather than simply returning to the pitch, the former Harambee Starlets forward embraced a dual role as both a player and Project Lead for the Lionesses, combining leadership off the field with experience on it.
Her impact was immediate.
On the pitch, she scored 15 goals and registered 8 assists in 11 matches, helping the Lionesses finish second in the 2025/26 FKF Nairobi East Women's Regional League standings.
Away from the field, she has become one of the driving forces behind the club's player development and mentorship programmes, areas she has consistently identified as essential to the growth of women's football in Kenya.
In an interview with the club earlier this year, Atieno said her decision to join Kahawa Pride was driven by more than football.
"Kahawa Pride always felt like another home to me because I used to come around for mentorship sessions," she said.
"Coming back here feels like coming back home. It is family. Now that I am one of the senior figures in the team, I want to guide the young girls, help them understand the game better and also prepare them for life outside football."
The appointment appears to align closely with those ambitions.
As Director of Football, Atieno will now oversee football operations across every level of the club, including the Lionesses, the men's senior side Alphas, youth team Mapogo and the Cubs academy, ensuring a unified football philosophy throughout the organisation.
One of Kenya's most accomplished women's footballers, Atieno enjoyed a distinguished career for club and country.
She represented Kenya's Harambee Starlets during one of the national team's most successful periods and was part of the squad that qualified for the country's maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2016.
She has also previously spoken about the need for better structures within women's football, arguing that sustainable development requires investment in mentorship, player welfare, coach education and community engagement alongside success on the pitch.
Her promotion to Director of Football reflects Kahawa Pride's continued investment in building long-term football structures while strengthening its technical leadership.
With experience as an elite player, mentor, administrator and now football executive, Atieno is expected to play a central role in shaping the club's sporting identity as Kahawa Pride continues its ambitions of developing talent and competing at the highest level of Kenyan football.