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Kahawa Starlets now ready to dine at ‘high table’

Thursday, January 16th, 2020 00:00 | By
Harambee Starlets sensation Nebby Atieno who is among star players set to feature for WPL debutants Kahawa Starlets. Photo/PD/FILE

Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) women football side Kahawa Starlets have washed their hands and are now ready to dine with queens. 

Since their inception in 2018, the side has worked through the ranks and finally earned promotion to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) this season.

Under the tutelage of Joseph Mwanza, the soldiers are ready to leave a mark on their debut in the top flight.

They are leaving nothing to chance as they have started early preparations with the tactician looking to bolster his squad ahead of the February 22 kickoff.

Kahawa Starlets was born in 2017 when a 35-player squad was assembled from the various brigades that take part in the annual Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and after battling through the lower leagues, they have now hit the big time. 

Playoff clash

They played in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) organised regional league and later battled coast and central regions to earn promotion to the FKF Division One in 2019.

They repeated the feat in Zone A of Division One, setting up a playoff clash with Zone B champions Nakuru West Queens in November last year.

Mwanza’s charges beat their Nakuru counterparts 2-1 to be crowned Division One champions after an unbeaten run to earn promotion to the WPL alongside the losing side and SEP Oyugis who finished third. Vihiga Leeds, Nyuki Starlets and Spedag were relegated.

“It has been a good journey for us as we started from the regional level and have maintained an unbeaten run all through.

Most of my players had experience playing in the premier league and we hope to build on that,” said the tactician.

Star players in Mwanza’s squad include Harambee Starlets’ sensation Neddy Atieno and Lucy Mukwana who were part of the national team as recent as 2018. 

He added: “We have a good squad and, I dare say depth, as we had many players attached to KDF who were plying their trade for other local clubs before the team was formed.”

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