Women must enjoy attention and investment granted to men, says newly elected FKF’s Margaret Omondi

Margaret Omondi [Standard Sports]

Newly elected FKF National Executive Committee Member and Women Representative Margaret Omondi has pledged to uplift women's football in the country.

Omondi, who faced stiff competition to beat Violet Kerubo from Kisii by 43 votes to 42, said women must be empowered from the grassroots level.  

"My approach is to build the game from the grassroots with schools as my key target whose ultimate goal is to see more women footballers take the game to the professional level.

"The post offers a great opportunity for women's football to have a voice at the executive level. With the strides made so far I believe that I will be able to work closely with the Women's desk to come up with programs and activities that will ensure growth and development of women Football across the country,” Omondi said.

The new FKF official further added that primary and secondary schools will not be left behind during her term in office.

"I also want to involve primary schools and secondary schools in football matters so that the girl child can grow up knowing that she has something she can offer in football," she said.

Omondi said women football can only grow with unity among all stakeholders, adding that fans too can come on board and help give life to her dream.

She begins her work on Monday with a tour of various centres in Teso before heading to Nandi County next week to facilitate training of referees.

Nick Mwendwa was re-elected as FKF president on Saturday at Safari Park Hotel Nairobi.

Mwendwa garnered 77 votes, beating former Gor Mahia CEO Lordvick Aduda who managed five votes while Herbert Mwachiro got a paltry three votes. Dan Mule and Bonface Osano got nothing.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa flanked by branch officials briefing journalists after he was announced the winner by 77 votes against his closest rival Lordvick Aduda 5votes, Herbert Mwachiro 3 votes, Boniface Osano 0 and Dan Mule 0 during the National FKF elections at Hotel Safari Park in Nairobi on Oct 17, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

In the FKF National Executive Committee elections, Michael Ouma got 59 votes to beat Tom Alila (25 votes) to the Nairobi Region seat.

Bernard Korir (64 votes) is the new Upper Rift Valley NEC member while his closest rival Nyongesa Masinde managed 21 votes.

Joseph Andere garnered 79 votes to retain the Nyanza National Executive Committee seat as Laban Jobita managed a paltry five votes.

Ahmed Qadar Mohammed drowned Mohammed Abdi Farah by 82 votes to three to clinch the North Eastern NEC seat.

Football Associations (CECAFA) secretary-general Nicholas Musonye among others, had filed a petition to stop the polls citing credibility issues.

Sports Registrar Rose Wasike also poured cold water on the elections saying it would be prudent for FKF not to proceed with Saturday’s plan to allow them put their house in order and conform to the national laws of the Country and FIFA Statutes.

Wasike’s plea hit a dead end on Friday after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruled otherwise.