Former Vihiga Queens skipper plots proper return

Lilian Adera may have gone down, away from the Kenya Women Premier League limelight, but she is gradually making a comeback with KISPED Queens- 3rd place finishers in last season’s FKF Div 1 Women’s league.

The centre-back, capped 16 times, says she’s not done yet and will make that clear as soon as the new season commences.

‘’I wouldn’t say I’m out of active football. Many people read that move wrong. KISPED (Kisumu Peer Educators) had an interesting program and seeing that I had won almost every trophy in the country, I decided to head back home to Kisumu to help nurture other young upcoming players,’’ says the former Vihiga Queens skipper.

The 29-year-old, who is a player-coach at KISPED, was part of the great Vihiga Queens squad that pulled a league treble between 2017 and 2019, right before COVID-19 struck. She admits staying that long without playing football might have also been the reason for her settling back home.

‘’We really were on the ascendancy at that time pre-covid, won every single trophy that was presented before us and when we had to break for more than a year, our composite structure might have disintegrated.

The few that made it back when football finally returned had to work extra hard to return the team to its initial momentum. I’m always pleased whenever I see the heights they’ve taken the team to presently.’’ she recalls with a glee.

Adera made the Kenya U-20 team in 2010, played all the way to the U20 AWCON. Little did she know more awaited her in national senior team colours a few years later.

‘’Qualifying for the 2016 AWCON with the senior team Harambee Starlets is one of my greatest honours. Very few believe in us but when we did, the whole country realised that they had a gem in us, it was a great feeling,’’ says the now CAF D licensed coach.

The tough defender has been a champion all her life, starting out with the great team of Kenya Methodist University that were champions of the FKF Women’s Div 1. Later on after moving to Vihiga Queens, she would amass three premier league titles as captain and now, with KISPED Queens- after a fantastic run in the FKF Women’s Cup, she believes she still has it.

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‘’I’m thoroughly active as a player even though I already have a coaching badge. In the new season our goal as KISPED is to get to the top flight. We have some great young talent in the team and we are keen on nurturing them. I’m confident we will play some good football and climb a ladder higher,’’ says Adera.

KISPED will play in the Women’s National Super League in the new season whose kick-off dates have not yet been made public by the FA.