Jane Hato reflects on her bold move from Madira Soccer Assassins to Mathare United
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 07.07.24. | 15:00
Despite being the captain and having led Madira to the East Africa School Games in Rwanda, Hato made a surprising move in January, stepping down from the Kenya Women Premier League to join the National Super League
Mathare United Women midfielder and Kenya Under-20 captain, Jane Hato, has no regrets about her decision to leave Madira Soccer Assassins.
Despite being the captain and having led them to the East Africa School Games in Rwanda, Hato made a surprising move in January, stepping down from the Kenya Women Premier League to join the National Super League.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Hato explained that her departure from the Vihiga-based club came after achieving their collective goal.
She and her teammates had aimed to guide Madira to the top flight league since their induction into the school team while in Form Two. With that goal accomplished, Hato felt it was time to pursue new challenges, returning to her childhood club, Mathare United.
"Our main target when we joined the school team was to reach the premier league. When I became the school captain, we achieved that goal by the time we completed our studies," Hato stated.
"After Form Four, I felt I had accomplished my task at Madira and needed a new challenge. Returning to Mathare United was the perfect fit, and I don’t regret the decision."
Hato’s passion for football started in 2012 when she joined Aunty Babes, a club founded by her mother in the Babadogo area of Nairobi.
She later joined the MYSA Under-16 team in 2017, captaining them at the annual Norway Cup in Oslo, where they reached the semifinals and finished fourth overall.
Her return to Mathare was a homecoming, reuniting her with her mother, Ann Oluoch, and providing her the opportunity to play for the senior team she had always admired.
She says working alongside her mother is both a blessing and a challenge.
"The best thing for a player is being coached by a parent, but it’s also challenging," Hato shared.
"Your parent always wants the best for you and trusts you. However, it can be tough because they are harder on you. Despite this, I’m happy to work under my mom because she pushes me to my limits and knows my capabilities."
Captaining the Rising Starlets during the 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers in November was a highlight of her career, despite the team’s elimination by Cameroon with a 6-2 aggregate.
"Captaining the national team was not entirely new to me, but it came with the immense responsibility of representing the nation. My role is to be a role model, and I'm ready to lead the Harambee Starlets if given the chance," she said.
Hato draws inspiration from Kenya Police Bullets midfielder Lydia Akoth, whom she hopes to play with soon.
She urges young footballers to stay passionate and focused on their goals. "First, love what you do and believe in yourself. Trust in God, and the rest will follow," Hato advised. "Challenges should motivate you to strive harder."
Outside football, Hato enjoys watching documentaries about Africa and spending time with friends and family at malls and amusement parks.
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