Fans of the women’s game were treated to a thrilling double header in RVIST Grounds, Nakuru as both Zone B teams turned out victorious in the FKF Women’s Division One Playoffs on August 6, 2023.
Soccer Assassins, champions zone B, were crowned overall champions of the FKF Women’s Division One after a 1-4 win against Kibera Soccer Ladies as Bungoma Queens bagged the last promotion spot.
Soccer Assassins – Madira Girls School team – make history as they are a high school team that will play in the FKF-WPL. The team is predominantly made up of students and that in itself makes it a remarkable feat.
Kibera Soccer Ladies are however no strangers to the top flight. They’ve had a remarkable season of their own too by winning the Zone A league and securing third in the FKF Women’s Cup 2023.
In the champions playoff encounter, both teams started the match off at a high tempo stating their intent very early on in the match. However, Kibera Ladies were the ones to open the scoring through a Maximila Robi strike in the 18th minute.
Shortly after a swift attack by Soccer Assassins resulted to a penalty been awarded, Charity Midema stepped up but Kaguta Esnas pulled out a save to deny her. Midema however made up for her miss by opening the scoring for her side in the 24th minute.
Valerie Nekesa scored a brace with the first of her two coming in the 31st minute ensuring her team went into the half time break in the lead. Her second rounded off the scoring for the game in the 82nd minute.
Faith Atieno scored the third goal for Assassins.
Both champions get a prize money of 500,000 shillings.
In the other winner takes all encounter, Bungoma queens secured a victory in a fiercely contested third place playoff match against Uweza Women. This would be their first appearance in the FKF Women’s Premier league.
The two teams could not be separated after the game ending 1-1 resulting to a penalty shoot-out. Bungoma Queens had the better of the early exchanges seeing their chance early in the match cleared off the goal line.
Despite Bungoma’s threat, Uweza Women score against the run of play through an Esther Ngungi goal. Uweza went into the half time break with a lead. Bungoma started the second half strong with Caroline khaemba scoring only ten minutes after restart.
Game went into penalties, Doreen Ouma saved a crucial penalty giving Elizabeth Mukoa a chance to score the winning penalty. The shoot out ended 6-5.
The FKF-WPL will witness these three new outfits for the season 2023/24.
Also Read: Nakuru County Sets Stage for FIFA’s Women Football Campaign