Romanian-coached Kobala girls target national football crown
By Bosco Magare, July 28, 2025Romanian-trained Kobala Girls football team, Nyanza region’s representatives at the national Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) ball games kicking off today in Kakamega County, have vowed to wrest the title from defending champions Butere Girls and qualify to represent Kenya at the upcoming East Africa (EA) Schools Championships.
Kobala Girls, who edged past Saye Secondary 4-2 in post-match penalties during the Nyanza regional school ball games final held in Kisumu City, boast five professional student players who trained at Romania’s Csikszereda Professional Camp and Academy.
These players will feature in the national KSSSA championship, the team’s head coach, Julius Aminga, disclosed on July 27, 2025, in an exclusive interview with People Sports.
“The team’s five Romanian-trained professional players are led by 18-year-old full-back Sheila Awuor and include left centre-back Brenda Awuor, right centre-back Esther Atieno, left winger Lucy Akinyi and goalkeeper Michelle Achieng,” Aminga said.
The coach explained that during the team’s recent two-week training camp in Romania, Kobala played two build-up matches against Romanian side FK Csíkszereda and Division One outfit FK Sepsi, winning 4-0 and 17-0 respectively.
The training camp at Csíkszereda Professional Academy was sponsored by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Kenya and the Romanian Embassy.
“At Csikszereda Professional Academy, the players gained valuable football skills, worked on speed during play and built the necessary playing strength. These skills will be very useful during the national KSSSA matches,” Aminga added.
Aminga, who also serves as Kobala Mixed Secondary School Deputy Head and the girls’ football team manager, noted that the team is further boosted by 17-year-old national Under-17 and Under-20 goalkeeper Scovia Awuor.
“Other regular, formidable and experienced players include right full-back Wilma Awuor, holding midfielders Ida Akinyi and Lilian Anyango, attacking midfielder Sey Lilian, right winger Consolata Adhiambo and Beffine Shaley,” he revealed.
Substitutes include custodian Hope Diana, centre forward Tracy Nolice, attacking midfielders Agnes Akinyi and Laurieen Adhiambo, holding midfielders Alice Lakwena and Joyce Akello, and right full-back Bintii Abu.