Promoted Nakuru West hope for good tidings
Newly-promoted Kenya Women’s Premier League side, Nakuru West Queens’ life at the top flight is idling along with those of all her locked-down rivals, but coach Ben-Peters Esitoko is planning for how to conquer the league once it resumes.
Esitoko who has guided Queens to three successive promotions in a span of three years, thinks the Nakuru best side can win a league title as they have done in the previous years in their maiden promotions.
The belief stems from their resounding start to the league after thrashing Oserian 3-1 on March 7 at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru in their opening match of the 2020 season.
“KWPL is the highest women league in the country and being new, we expect stiff competition from teams that have been in the league for long but our first win has given us belief and motivation that we are a good team and can challenge the big girls in the league.
I know eyeing the title in our first attempt will be seen as over ambitious but our minimum target is to finish in top three,” said coach Ben-Peters Esitoko.
“Coronavirus will definitely affect the fitness of all players once the league resumes but I hope to get them in good frame of shape and ready ahead.
Honestly I am worried (no trainings), the players left camp to exercise self isolation with their families and we don’t know exactly when to return to even training,” he added.
Esitoko’s little bit of wary is based on the fact that Zone B is a very tough zone as it features current league champions Vihiga Queens (yet to kickoff their league season), heavyweights Trans Nzoia Falcons, Eldoret Falcons, Wadadia, Kisumu All Starlets and the other fellow prompted side, SEP Ladies FC.
After week one’s matches, Nakuru West Queens lead the league table standings with three maximum points, tying with fellow promoted side SEP Ladies FC and league regulars Trans Nzoia Falcons.
Defending champions Vihiga Queens and Wadadia are fourth and fifth on the table though they have not yet played a match, while week one losers; Eldoret Falcons, Kisumu All Starlets and Oserian Ladies FC are in sixth, seventh and eighth places in the eight-teams.
Nakuru West Queens were scheduled to visit Eldoret Falcons in week two last weekend, March 22nd had the league not been postponed following the government’s ban on public gathering and thereafter, FKF ceeding to the government call to suspend the league to avoid the spread and infection of Coronavirus.
The three year journey started in 2018 in the Nakuru County League, where West Queens earned promotion to FKF Women’s Division One unbeaten, recording eight cleansheats.
