Sports

Kenya Police to start a women’s football team

Monday, January 3rd, 2022 10:00 | By
Red Bees clinched the 2021 edition of the Betika-sponsored Chris Oguso Cup played in Vihiga County. Photo/PD/Webster Nyandika

National Police Service plans to start a women’s football team to compete in the Women Premier League (WPL) in the near future.

The announcement was made by Kenya Police FC chief executive officer Chris Oguso during the final of the annual Betika Chris Oguso tournament at Mmboha Stadium in Luanda Vihiga.

Oguso, himself a former football player for the now defunct Scarlet FC, said he would share the idea with Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutiambai then push for the immediate launch of the team.

“We have witnessed great talent in women football at this year’s tournament and since the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently issued a call for all premier league teams to have a women’s team.

I tagged along my coaches Bobby Ogolla, Charles Korea and Haggai Azande who have spotted some good players, now we will go and give Mutiambai the idea and if he agrees, we will immediately start the team with the players we spotted,” Oguso said.

Agnes Olesi scored for Mustered Queens in the 44th minute to steer them to a 1-0 win over Red Bees Queens in the women’s final and in the process earned the team the winner’s prize money of Sh250,000. The runner-up pocketed Sh100,000.

On their way to the finals, Mustered Queens beat Verton 2-0, while Red Bees Queens beat Ebusiloli 2-0 as well.

“This is a sweet victory for us. Mustered Queens come from Majengo and last year we were knocked out in the semi-finals of this competition, for us to reach the final and win is a dream come true and we really deserve it,” said coach Saidi Mwanga.

Community policing

In the men’s final, Red Bees were in a class of their own as they hammered Vigogo FC 3-0 in a one-sided match that could have witnessed more goals had the victors utilised all their chances.

Amos Kigadi notched a brace for the winners in the 30th and 71st minutes, while Fred Ambani found the back of the net in the 81st minute to seal the win.

The result meant that Red Bees pocketed the winner’s money of Sh500, 000, while the runner-up went home with Sh250, 000.

“I want to thank Mutiambai, the chairman of Kenya Police FC Nyale Munga and Deputy Inspector General Edward Mbugua for giving us this idea of community policing.

The policy of this tournament is policing through sports and that is what we have been doing at this competition, mainly to bring the three tribes in Vihiga, the Maragoli, Bunyore and Tiriki, together,” said Oguso.

He added: “The tournament has been around for 10 years and we are currently being supported by Betika who are also the main sponsors of premier league side Kenya Police FC.

This is a totally non-political tournament, all the politicians who grace it come as normal fans and are not even given a platform to talk.”

In the curtain raiser, premier league side Kenya Police FC beat Vihiga County Combine 2-0, thanks to goals from Oguso and Lesley Otieno.

Initially the tournament was restricted to Mungoma ward in Vihiga but has since been expanded to cover the entire county, attracting teams from all the six sub-counties, namely, Vihiga, Sabatia, Hamisi, Emuhaya and Luanda.

Each of the sub-county had 32 teams that played a knock-out format from September.

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