All Starlets ready to bounce back after Trans Nzoia slip

Kisumu All Starlets have their sights set on qualifying for the Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) women’s football mini-league as the best-placed team in Zone B despite losing their opening match on home ground. 

Lydia Makwere’s 48th minute goal for Trans Nzoia Falcons against Kisumu made sure the tradition of the two teams continued for a third straight season as the former picked a 1-0 win.

The two sides have, in the last three editions, been pitted against each other in season openers with Falcons running away with the victory on all occasions.

In 2018, Falcons picked a 3-1 win, followed it up with a 2-1 win in 2019 before the 1-0 victory over the weekend.

“A 1-0 loss is an improvement from previous outcomes. The players did well in the first half but a lapse in concentration at the beginning of the second half saw us suffer another loss.

We missed several scoring chances too. However, that is not defining our season. We will come back stronger in our next encounter where we meet new entrants SEP Oyugi,” said Kisumu coach Juma Said.

Kisumu have added 12 new players to their stable in a bid to steady their ship and ensure depth in preparation for the season as they expected a gruelling unified league.

The league, however, reverted to the zonal format. Nonetheless, team manager (TM) Beryl Monique believes competition is just as tough in the zone.

Only three of the 12 signings have experience playing in any league with the rest joining the last-season’s fifth place finishers from high school.

The three include Spedag’s Queenter Obiero, Ann Wanjuki from Limuru Starlets and the multi-talented Pauline Naise who played for Zetech Sparks in 2018 but concentrated on playing hockey last season.