Lone queens beat the odds

Our sources reveal that a few well-wishers including Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen came to their assistance with a donation of Sh200,000 while Coca Cola donated training kits, water and sodas.

The team also lacked transport from their hotel to the venue.

They were apparently subjected to a 2km walk from the prestigious Sports View Hotel to the stadium daily.

Stadia Management Board also came under sharp criticism over the availability of their facility. The teams could not access training rooms all the time due to blackouts.

“The blackout was caused by Kenya Power who were on site doing maintenance. We were not aware,” said an SSMB staff who declined to be mentioned.

To maintain the team spirit the girls spent their time playing games with the officials and technical bench just to wish away their frustrations.

“They hid the team manager’s shoes and team doctor’s mobile phone. They took it (the phone) and hid it away from him making the physician go through traumatising moments just to tease him,” said coach Lung’aho

“Sisi ni team ya federation sio gava kwa hivyo tunajipatia tu morale sisi wenyewe (we find ways of encouraging ourselves even though we have been abandoned),” added Janet Wanja

Team captain Brackcides Agala thanked KVF chairman Waithaka Kioni for continued support for the team in the past tournaments.

“For a long time, we have played for the love of the country but it is so unfortunate that no one recognises our efforts even after great wins and victories over the continent. Only the federation fends for us.  Are we not Kenyan enough or we are lesser citizens,” posed Agala.

Wanja, a veteran player in the national team, feels that perhaps complacency has got into sports management. The Kenya Pipeline setter believes that the government and the corporate firms alike do not see the need to sponsor the team due to their success.

“We are overlooked due to the fact that we normally perform well and no one sees the need to invest in the team because (it seems) we will always win,” Wanja said.

One of the players in the youth team, who requested that he remains anonymous, talked of her fears of not achieving her dream to play overseas should the current state of affairs continue.

“I would love to play in the professional leagues overseas but where does my future lie if the current national team is not well taken care of?”

The five-time African champion had a few words for the sportsmen and women who tend to think that it is all rosy playing for the national team. “Winning is not magic, it is hard work and that is how champions are made,” she said.