Targets set

By FRANCIS ONTOMWA,

Ibinzo Secondary School football team after winning the Western Province Secondary Schools Sports Association football title at Kakamega High School last week. [PHOTO:BENJAMIN SAKWA/STANDARD]

With a student population of 312, Ibinzo Secondary School can pass a small institution.

However, this perception is bound to change, thanks to their impressive football prospects in this year’s secondary schools championships.

Ibinzo, a Boarding and Day girls’ school, emerged this year’s Western Province football queens after beating the reigning 2011 East and Central Africa champions Archbishop Njenga Girls in the finals to book a ticket to the national championships in Mombasa, next month.

Located eight kilometres from Kakamega town in Ibinzo village, the school is sponsored by the Church of God East Africa, Kenya.

The football starlets have now been christened ‘Barcelona queens’ by football lovers  in Western for their characteristic superb displays.

“Our strength lies in ball possession, we hold the ball on the ground and build set pieces,” says coach Erick Lumiti.

Three players from the Kakamega-based side are in the national under-20 girls’ football team and according to Lumiti, this gives them an edge over others.

“The three, Euphrese Afwayi (captain), Cynthia Mukhanji and Jackline Ashitsa,  have brought a lot of experience in the team  and this will put our side on a higher platform in Mombasa,” Lumiti told FeverPitch.

 Their striker Mildred Ouma emerged the overall top scorer in last week’s  provincial games at Kakamega High School. She scored 11 goals of the 26 scored by the side.

“We are heading to a new stage, we are aware of the heat to expect and we are equal to the challenge. I hope to score as many goals as possible,”said  Ouma.

Skipper Afwayi, who attributs their top form to rigorous training and discipline said: “We go for road works twice a week and this party explains why we are a serious side.”

In Ibinzo’s team, only three are in Form Four. They include Truphena Ashioya, Tabitha Omuhande and Ouma.

“We have team for the future, we will only lose  three players and you can expect most of us in action next year,” team manager says Sibiko Wafula a.

The journey through the provincials saw them concede just a single goal to Butere Girls in the semi-finals.

First choice custodian Elker Shitsuli has hinted another scintillating performance from her department in Mombasa.

“ It was not by sheer luck that we went that long journey without conceding goals, it was real commitment from players from every department, I want to take the good form to the nationals”  said Shitsuli.