Nairobi Women Champions Cup launched
Football Kenya Federation Nairobi branch has launched the Nairobi Women Champions Cup, a competition that will see the ladies football teams based in the capital Nairobi fight for honours.
The inaugural tournament is a partnership between FKF Nairobi branch and Soka Company, a firm associated with football administrator Nick Mwendwa, who is angling to unseat FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya in the football elections slated for November.
The competition which kicks off in mid-August has attracted 16 teams who will battle it out for the trophy and the Sh 250,000 prize money for winners. Runners up will take home Sh 100,000, while, third place finishers will pocket Sh 50,000.
Speaking during the launch at a city hotel on Wednesday, Mwendwa emphasized the need of devolving football from the headquarters to the grassroots.
DEVELOP WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
“We want to give the girls a chance and it is important that we elect people who will ensure that women football is developed,” Mwendwa said.
“We want to see our girls well taken care of. We do not want to see them fly out at night or be caught up on visa hitch issues,” he said in reference to the recent travel hitch that saw the national women team travel to South Africa for an Olympic qualifier against host Banyana Banyana just hours to the match.
“It is a time we took football away from the offices in Nairobi to the grassroots. We want to see our players hog the limelight, not federation chiefs. When you see the officials in the limelight and not the players, then it means something is amiss.”
Apart from prize money, outstanding players will be awarded. The tournament’s top scorer, best player and best goalkeeper will each be receive Sh 25,000.
Fixtures:
Street Revolution v Golden Angels
Sunderland Samba v Kibagare Girls
WYSA Ladies v Victoria Girls
Kayole Starlets v Kibera Girls Soccer
Beijing Raiders v Mountain View leopards
Golden Starlet v Musa Ladies
Embakasi United v St Anne’s Eaglet
Maringo Girls v Dandora Starlets