Why the FKF Women's Premier League season kick-off has been postponed

Vihiga Queens' Slover Amalemba (left) and Mercyline Anyango of Kayole Starlets during FKF Women Premier League at Ruaraka grounds. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The 2023-2024 FKF Women's Premier League season kick-off has been pushed to next month.

This is two weeks back from their earlier planned date of September 23.

According to the Football Kenya Federation, the league will now kick off on October 7.

The adjustment in the schedule has been made to accommodate the ongoing preparations of the Harambee Starlets for their Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers against Cameroon.

A significant number of players from both Ulinzi Starlets and Vihiga Queens are currently on national team duty.

In the first round of the FKF-WPL, the defending champions, Vihiga Queens, will begin their title defense against Ulinzi Starlets, while last season's runners-up, Gaspo FC, will host Bunyore Starlets at Stima Club.

League debutants Bungoma Queens will face off against league returnees, Kibera Soccer Ladies. Meanwhile, Soccer Assassins, also newcomers to the top tier, will take on Kenya Police Bullets. These newly promoted teams will be eager to retain their top-flight status for another season.

The transfer window is currently open, having commenced on July 21, and is scheduled to close on Friday, September 29, at 5 pm.

Additionally, the season's curtain-raiser, the FKF Women's Super Cup, will now be played on September 30.

The match will feature a clash between the 2023 FKF Women's Cup champions, Ulinzi Starlets FC, and the reigning FKFWPL 2022/23 champions, Vihiga Queens FC.