Girls’ to take part in league

By Rebecca Gichana

Copa Coca Cola under 17 league has produced great footballers such as MacDonald Mariga and his younger brother, Victor Wanyama, who play professional football overseas.

And in it’s fifth year in Kenya, the programme has come up with a girls’ league. Generation Next caught up with some participants who took part in the games that took place at Ofafa Jericho Secondary School last weekend.

Team members of PFK Football Club after a match at the launch of Copa Coca Cola 2012 at Jerico High School, Nairobi. [Photo: Jonah Onyango/Standard]

Brenda Atieno, who plays for President Kimbrow Foundation (PKF) Football Club, was excited by the idea that girls were invited to play in the league this year.

The 12-year-old hopes that the league will help sharpen her skills and dreams to play for the national team one day. She also plays for PKF club in the on-going Nairobi Provincial Women’s League.

"I’m happy to play in the league. There are so many girls who would have wished to play football, but have no chance to. This league will help many young football players around the country. Through the experience, I hope to get a number in the national team in future," says Atieno.

The Standard Five pupil from Makongeni Primary School, Nairobi, has been playing football as a midfielder since she was six years old.

In the boys’ category, Stephen Onyango from Doctor Kraft Primary School in Maringo, says this is the first step to stardom, as his dream to play for Gor Mahia has started.

"I want to be among the chosen few from this tournament. I want to play football to my best, since I know there will be a reward at the end of it all. This is where my dreams starts and this means that only hard work will make me play in a club of my dreams, or Mahia," says Onyango.

A total of 32 best players, boys and girls, will be selected from every sub-branch countrywide to proceed to the next level of the competition that will be taking place across the country every weekend.

At the end of the tournament, the 32 best players will get a chance to travel to South Africa later this year to further sharpen their skills.