Six-star Nakuru Queens maul Wadadia to seal place in WPL play-offs
By Gibo Zachary, June 7, 2021
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women Premier League 2020/2021 regular season will come to an end this Saturday but with a match to go since it’s now official that all the six playoff slots have been sealed.
Following this weekend’s matches, league defending champions Vihiga Queens, Wadadai FC, and Nakuru Queens have secured their places in playoffs from Zone B while Thika Queens, Gaspo Women FC, and Ulinzi Starlets FC have made it to the playoffs from Zone A.
With all the three teams from Zone A having sealed their playoffs last weekend, much attention was turned to Zone B this weekend with all eyes on Nakuru Queens versus Wadadai encounter as well as Kisumu All-Starlets versus Vihiga Queens. In the latter match, Nakuru Queens turned on the style, beating visiting Wadadai FC 6-0 to earn their place in the playoffs.
It was a do or die for Nakuru Queens and they delivered it when it mattered most. Stella Anyango grabbed a hat trick, Diana Koskei helping herself to a brace as Emily Mukwana joined the party with a sixth goal to leave coach BenPeters Esitoko purring.
“I’m very happy, and the whole Nakuru Queens family is super excited for this feat. Being our debut season and having made it to the playoffs, it’s not a means feat. Congratulations to the girls,” an elated Nakuru Queens head coach BenPeters Esitoko told People Daily.
“We have one to go against SEP Oyugis Girls which we want to win and finish on a high note, but all our attention now is shifted to the playoffs. We don’t have a sponsor that we depend on but we have God and He knows the reason He has put us up there in the league. I also want to thank the Nakuru county sports office as well as Top gas for their immense support. We could not have reached this far if it weren’t for them,” Esitoko added.
As Nakuru Queens celebrate having sealed their playoffs slot, it was heartbreaking at Moi Stadium Kisumu as Vihiga Queens beat Kisumu All Starlets 3-0 to end Starlets’ slim chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
Starlets had hoped to beat Vihiga and at the same time praying Wadadai to crash Nakuru Queens but goals from Marende Ongachi, Phoebe Aketch and Jentrix Shikangwa gave Vihiga a comfortable win, thus ending Kisumu All Starlets’ hopes.
Ahead of the regular league climax on Wednesday, Vihiga Queens are still leading in Zone B League with 37 points from 13 matches with stunned Wadadia FC second on 25 points, Nakuru Queens FC third on an improved 24 points with Trans Nzoia Falcons’ Saturday 6-2 win over already-relegated Oserian Ladies catapulting them to fourth on the table with 20 points as Kisumu All Starlets dropped to fifth place with 18 points.
In Zone A, unbeaten Thika Queens are top with 39 points from 13 matches followed by Gaspo Women FC on 28 points with Ulinzi Starlets dropping to third on 27 points while Zetech Sparks FC is fourth 17 points, Kayole Starlet FC fifth with 16 points.
In the relegation zone, SEP Ladies FC on ten points, Oserian Ladies FC with nine points and Eldoret Falcons FC with no point have been axed from the league in Zone B while Mathare Women FC (four points), Makolanders (eight points), and Kibera Soccer Ladies FC (12 points) have been relegated from Zone.