Ulinzi Starlets clash with Vihiga Queens in FKF Women Cup final at Nakuru Showgrounds
It’s all system go as Vihiga Queens and impressive Ulinzi Starlets come face-to-face in Nakuru for Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Cup final at the Nakuru ASK Showgrounds from 2 pm.
Both teams are chasing their first and only local title of the season, after they missed out on the league title where Vihiga who were the back-to-back three-time league defending champions lost 5-4 on post-match penalties to Gaspo Women to surrender the league title, while Ulinzi Starlets lost also on penalties to Nakuru Queens in the quarterfinals.
To make it to this finals, Vihiga Queens knocked out Kayole Starlets 3-0 in the semifinals with Janet Bundi scoring a brace with Jentrix Shikangwa converting from a penalty for the comprehensive victory while captain fantastic Neddy Akoth scored a hat-trick to guide Ulinzi Starlets to come from behind to beat hosts Kisumu Allstarlets 4-2 in the other semifinal match played at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu to storm into today’s final.
“We are one step from finishing the season with a trophy and we just need to prepare well both attacking and defending.
We are happy to have reached this far and I want to congratulate my players for the good run and their mental strength especially for coming from behind and winning against Kisumu All-Starlets in the semifinals.
So girls, let’s do it one more time,” Ulinzi Starlets head coach Joseph Wambua Mwanza said in an interview with People Sport.
The match will be preceded by the FKF Women Division One ultimate playoff which will be used as the curtain-raiser and will feature FKF Women’s Division One League Zone A champions, Kangemi Allstarlets against Zone B champions Bunyore Starlets at 11 am.
By emerging champions in their respective zones, both teams were promoted to the women’s top tier league, FKF Women’s Premier League, and will now be out to outplay each other in a bid to win a second silverware in the FKF second-tier league, and be crowned the 2020/2021 FKF Women’s Division One League overall champions.
Speaking exclusively to People Sport, Kangemi All Starlets head coach Joseph Orao said that even though some of his players who play in the first eleven team are with the national women’s football Under-20 team, Rising Starlets, he’s confident of beating Bunyore and win the overall Division One 2021 season title.
“We have been in training for long enough after we won the Zone A league title, and even though we were not aware of the playoff early enough, we’re ready and ours is to win and I’m confident we’re going to win the match and be crowned Division One League 2021 overall champions.
The team is in good shape and okay, though we’ll miss five of our players that are with the national under-20 team, Rising Starlets, I have enough and quality players to do the job,” coach Orao told People Sport.
Bunyore Starlets are also utterly eager to finish their season on a high and team manager Zacharia Amakhang’a says they are more than ready to face Kangemi All Starlets today.
“The girls have had an impressive run in both Zone B-League as well as FKF Women’s Cup where we made it to the quarterfinals and we want to finish off the season on a high by clinching the 2021 FKF Women’s Division League overall title,” Bunyore Starlets team manager Zacharia Amakhang’a told People Sport.
