Ulinzi Starlets revived their Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF WPL) title hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kibera Soccer Women on Wednesday at the Ulinzi Complex in Nairobi. The match, which was crucial for both teams in their quest for the title, saw Ulinzi edge Kibera thanks to a second-half goal from Fasila Adhiambo.
The only goal of the match came in the 47th minute when Adhiambo’s strike slipped through the hands of Kibera’s goalkeeper, giving Ulinzi the lead. Despite the early setback, Kibera Soccer, who were hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table, mounted a series of efforts to find an equalizer. However, their hopes were dashed in the 67th minute when a goal was ruled out for offside, much to the frustration of their players and supporters.
Ulinzi Starlets, though relieved to have a slim lead, were unable to capitalize on further opportunities to seal the victory. They squandered two golden chances to increase their advantage. Cecilia Rasoha missed a header from a cross that would have doubled the score, and in the dying moments of the match, JoyKing Lady failed to convert a penalty, leaving Kibera with a glimmer of hope.
Despite the missed opportunities, Ulinzi’s win was crucial in keeping their title ambitions alive. The victory saw them climb to second place in the FKF WPL standings, three points behind the league leaders, Kenya Police Bullets. Kibera Soccer, on the other hand, remained determined despite the loss. Assistant coach Samuel Njuguna expressed his team’s resolve, saying that the defeat was disappointing but not the end of their title hopes. He pointed out that with two matches remaining, the race for the championship was still open.
“We failed to be clinical and wasted a lot of chances. We will go and rectify the mistakes and come back stronger. The league is still open; we can still be champions and the race is still tight,” Njuguna said post-match, maintaining a positive outlook for the team’s future.
For Ulinzi Starlets, head coach Collins Ochieng was pleased with his team’s performance, acknowledging that while the match had been tight, they made the most of the chances they had. “The game was good and had a few chances. The one who took advantage of the chances created won the day. We will be eyeing to finish stronger in our last match against Kisumu All Starlets,” Ochieng said. His team’s resilience in the face of pressure was a key factor in their victory.
Other results in the FKF WPL included Trinity Starlets’ 1-0 win over Mombasa Olympic, Zetech Sparks’ 3-2 triumph over Bunyore Starlets, and Vihiga Queens’ 4-2 victory over Kisumu All Starlets. These results have added further excitement to the title race, with teams jockeying for position as the season draws to a close.
With two matches left for Ulinzi Starlets, the pressure is on as they look to close the gap on the leaders. Their upcoming clash with Kisumu All Starlets will be crucial, as any slip-up could see them fall behind in the pursuit of the championship. Kibera Soccer, too, will be aiming to bounce back and ensure they can still challenge for the top spot. The final stretch of the FKF WPL promises to be intense, with several teams still in contention for the coveted title.
