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The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women Division One League, the second tier, is set to resume this weekend after a whole season off, following the nullification of the 2019/2020 season due to Covid-19 outbreak in the country in March last year.

The FKF Women Division One 2019/2020 season was scheduled to start in mid-March but after the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country, leading to banning of all public gatherings of more than 15 individuals and the indefinite closure of all stadiums, FKF announced on April 30, 2021 that it became untenable to conclude the 2019/2020 league season in time for the kickoff of the 2020/2021 season.

“In this regard, the federation has effectively cancelled the following FKF leagues, the Kenyan Premier League, the Betika National Super League, the FKF National Division One League, the FKF Division Two leagues and all FKF grass-root Leagues, while the Women Premier League and the Women Division One league have both been nullified,” a statement from FKF read in part.

However, the wait is over as the 2020/2021 Women Division One League is finally getting underway this weekend with four scintillating fixtures scheduled in Zone B League across the region.

“On Wednesday, we did Covid-19 test at Gusii Stadium, and I am glad the league is back,” Gusii Starlets coach Lai Oyori told People Sport.

Gusii Starlets who are featuring in Division One League for the third season now, missed by a whisker to earn promotion to the Kenya Women Premier League last season, finishing third behind Division One Zone B League champions Nakuru West Queens and runner’s up Sep Oyugis, both of whom earned promotion and coach Oyori is upbeat this season, will be their season to finally join the big girls in the Premier League.

“It’s long since we played active and competitive football and as Gusii Starlets, we’ll take a game at a time. 

We know it’s a new challenge, we have Nyuki Starlets who have Premier League experience and former champions in our league, and we don’t know how they have prepared, then we have new teams in the name of Tombe River Plate and Royal Starlets, both of whom we don’t know their game play, but we’re going all out to compete for promotion,” Gusii Starlets C.E.O-club assistant coach Ali Mustafa told People Sport.

Gusii Starlets are scheduled to start their campaign away to newcomers Tombe River Plate at Tombe Pr. School, Saturday in a match scheduled to kick off at 1 pm while at the same time, Vihiga Leeds and Solasa Stima Queens will be battling at Mumboha Ground.

On Sunday, Kenya Women Premier League relegated side Nyuki Starlets who were the 2018/2019 Division One Zone B League champions, will lock horns with hosts Bunyore Starlets at Mumboha Ground as they seek a quick return to the top tier league as Bomet Starlets will clash with newcomers Royal Starlets from Kitale at Silibwet Ground in the second match on Sunday and then final fixture of round one.

“We were kicked out of the Premier League due to mismanagement of funds received from the federation but in terms of playing, we had a good show and as we launch our campaign, we are optimistic of good results.

We have sorted transports issues and I can say, we are ready,” Nyuki Starlets coach Edgar Akhonya told People Sport.